The Pilgrim Path---The Gospel of Mark 14: 53--65

They lead Jesus away to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes gathered together. Peter had followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the officers and warming himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any. For many were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimony was not consistent. Some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, saying, "We heard Him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.' " Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent. The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, "Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?" But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" And Jesus said, "I am; and you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN." Tearing his clothes, the high priest said, "What need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?" And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. Some began to spit at Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, "Prophesy!" And the officers received Him with slaps in the face (NASB).

---By and large, the Religious Elite, disagreed with Jesus because they followed the letter of the Law. Jesus followed the LORD of the Law perfectly, and walked by the Spirit, in the true spirit of the Law ( there's a huge difference).

---By the fire warming himself---this is where Peter ended up---just where Jesus said he would. Peter's verbal testimony was far more formidable than his "actual" testimony...God help Us All...

---Bad witnesses come forward against Jesus: Their testimony was conflicting...From Bishop J. C. Ryle: Let it never surprise true Christians if they are slandered and misrepresented in this world. They must not expect to fare better than their Lord. Let them rather look to it as a matter of course, and see in it a part of the cross which all must bear after conversion. Lies and false reports are among Satan's choicest weapons. When he cannot deter men from serving Christ, he labors to harass them and make Christ's service uncomfortable. Let us bear it patiently, and not count it a strange thing..."

---By Jesus' own word, the rage is unleashed: "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" Jesus said, "I am..."

---Be well aware: The Son of Man will be exalted above ALL...destruction against those who oppose His Truth...my, The Church---opened to the Nations of the Earth (see Mark 13: 24-27)----HE is coming in the clouds...Wow...

---"Blasphemy"---is the charge against Jesus from the Council: "he must die"---The Romans must help them...

---Blows directed "at" Jesus---they spit on Him...mockery...

---But, this is what I deserve...

Jesus must really love The Father---and His people...

---From Bishop Ryle: Let us leave the passage with a deep sense of the reality and certainty of out Lord Jesus Christ's second coming. Once more at the very end of His ministry, and in the face of His deadly enemies, we find Him asserting the mighty truth that He will come again to judge the world. Let it be one of the leading truths in our own personal Christianity. Let us live in the daily recollection that our Savior is one day coming back to this world. Let the Christ in whom we believe, be not only the Christ who died for us and intercedes---but the Christ who will one day return in glory, to gather together and reward His people, and to punish fearfully all His enemies...

Lo! He comes, with clouds descending,

Once for favored sinners slain;

Thousand, thousand saints attending

Swell the triumph of His train;

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

God appears on earth to reign.

God appears on earth to reign.

Charles Wesley (1707--1788)

Grace & Peace in Jesus Christ Our Lord, Pastor Jason