The Jewish Trial
THE JEWISH TRIAL
MARK 14:53-65
Christ’s human judges would see the Son of Man exalted and coming with the clouds of heaven.
From the scene of arrest Jesus was hurried away to be tried by a variety of “courts.” The brief mention of Peter at the beginning of the scene reminds us that he was present throughout it and prepares us for 14:64-72. The scene here took place at night before the members of the Sanhedrin (seventy-one members, comprising representatives from the priestly families, the scribes and the laity). Since a further consultation was held in the morning, it is fairly certain that here an unofficial, even an illegal, meeting was held, “packed” with the high priest’s friends.
The purpose was simple. It had already been resolved to put Jesus to death; the only problem was to find some justification for condemning him on a capital charge. Jewish law required that concurrent testimony be given by at least two witnesses, and the charges against Jesus broke down because of conflicting evidence. Even the “temple” charges were too garbled to stand. That Jesus had spoken about it is clear (13:2; 15:29; John 2:19ff.), and his words about erecting a new temple could be construed as a claim to Messiahship (2 Samuel 7:13; Zechariah 6:12f.). Perhaps this was what gave the high priest his cue to question Jesus himself. Finally, when the high priest asked him whether he claimed to be the Messiah, the Son of God, Jesus replied with an unequivocal “Yes”; for the first time he made a plain, public avowal of his status. Then he proceeded to elucidate his statement by declaring, in words based on Psalm 110:1 and Daniel 7:13, that his human judges would see the Son of Man exalted and coming with the clouds of heaven. This prophecy does not fix the second coming as taking place in the lifetime of Jesus’ hearers; its point is that the exalted Son of Man will one day act in judgment against the judges of Jesus.
The answer was enough to throw the high priest into a feigned paroxysm of horror at the blasphemy of Jesus claiming a seat at God’s right hand, and the council forthwith condemned him to death. But the sentence would need to be confirmed by a formal meeting, and it could be carried out only by the Roman governor since the Jews did not possess the right to inflict the death penalty (John 18:31). Meanwhile, some of the rougher characters began to goad Jesus to perform acts of “second-sight,” thus fulfilling Isaiah 50:6.
For meditation
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned he stood.