COMMENTARY ON M ARK
LESSON NUMBER 159
Mark 14:57 “And there arose certain, and bare false witness against Him, saying, 58We heard Him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. 59But neither so did their witness agree together. 60And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest Thou nothing? what is it which these witness against Thee? 61aBut He held His peace, and answered nothing. . .”
(Mark 14:57-61a; Matt 26:60-63a; John 18:19-24)
THE MOCK TRIAL BEGINS
INTRODUCTION
It is in the middle of the night, and the powers of darkness are at work. When Judas had left Jesus and His disciples, it is written that “it was night” (John 13:30). Now, the moral darkness blends with natural darkness, which is a time when “the power of darkness” delights to work – when it is difficult to see and men tend to be tired, lacking alertness. After the commencement of the night, Jesus had prayed His intercessory prayer (John 17). He had taken His disciples into Gethsemane, and thrice prayed in agony to the Father (Matt 26:44). He had then awakened His disciples and went to meet those coming to arrest Him (Matt 26:46). Upon their arrival, Jesus asked the soldiers whom they were seeking. At their answer, He told them He was the One they sought, and they stumbled backward, falling to the ground. Judas then betrayed Jesus, and the Lord queried Him about His malicious deed. Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus, servant of the high priest. Jesus stopped the aggression of His disciples, instructed them, and then rebuked the multitude for coming against Him as though He was a thief. The disciples fled. The soldiers tried to arrest a young unnamed man who was watching, and he fled, leaving his outer garment with them. Jesus is bound, and led away to the palace of the high priest. Peter and John follow, and John speaks to the doorkeeper so she would allow Peter to enter. There was a call for false witnesses against Jesus, and many came forward, although their witnesses were contradictory of one another, and did not agree. A lot has happened, and we are now well into the night – perhaps not far from the dawning of the day. You see with what aggression the enemies of Jesus came against Him – how they abandoned all thoughts of convenience and propriety. In view of this scene, should we not conclude that a casual and haphazard effort to serve the Lord is a great contradiction? Does not such a sight betray an absence of understanding and conviction? If His enemies knew enough to oppose Jesus, how is it is possible for those professing to know Him to fail to serve Him with intention and zeal?
A FORMAL WITNESS IS GIVEN AGAINST HIM
“ Mark 14:57 And there arose certain, and bare false witness against Him, saying, 58We heard Him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. 59But neither so did their witness agree together.”
The “chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put Him to death.” That means that the entire trial was nothing more than a mockery. There was no attempt to get to the truth, only an effort to justify what they had already determined to do. This was not a legal proceeding, and there was no effort to determine whether or not Jesus was actually worthy of the death sentence. The Law of Moses, under which they were supposedly operating, imposed the death sentence for the following: murder (Num 35:16), adultery (Lev 20:10), incest (Lev 20:11,12,14), bestiality (Ex 22:19), sodomy (Lev 20:13), whoredom(Deut 22:21-24), rape (Deut 22:25), kidnaping (Ex 21:16), a priest’s daughter who committed fornication (Lev 21:9), witchcraft (Ex 22:18), offering human sacrifice (Lev 20:2), striking or cursing father or mother (Ex 21:15,17), disobedience to parents (Deut 21:18-21), blasphemy (Lev 24:16), Sabbath desecration (Ex 35:2), prophesying falsely (Deut 13:1-10), sacrificing to false gods (Ex 22:20), the owner of an animal that was prone to kill, and was not restrained (Ex 21:19), a man or woman with a familiar spirit (Lev 20:27), a stranger who entered the tabernacle (Num 18:7), anyone who sought to turn the people away from God (Deut. 13:5), and refusing to abide by the decision of the appointed Jewish authorities (Deut 17:12).
There are twenty-two lawful reasons to put a man to death. Yet, even when people were lying, no two people could agree as to a just cause for Jesus to be put to death. Truly, He was without sin! He lived out the requirement of being “blameless” (Phil 2:15; 1 Thess 5:23; 2 Pet 3:15). He was, in every sense of the word, “separate from sinners” (Heb 7:26).
THERE AROSE CERTAIN. Finally, no doubt after a considerable period of time, two false witnesses agreed enough to appear to justify the quest of the high priest. They could not charge Jesus with any of the crimes authorizing capital punishment. They could not show any weakness in His character or His work. However, they “arose,” being forward to tell the court what it wanted to hear. Matthew says these witnesses “came” (Matt 26:60).
WE HEARD HIM SAY! Their witness was that they both heard Him say, “I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.” Matthew reports they said, “I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days” (Mat 26:61). It is a stretch of one’s imagination to make this a justification for capital punishment – particularly since the people had thought nothing of desecrating the Temple by merchants exchanging money, and selling doves and oxen. They had no care for the house of God, and twice faced a Jesus who cleansed the Temple of such defilement. Yet now, these false witnesses represent Jesus as though He had no respect for His Father’s house.
Of course, they did not hear Jesus say these words. At the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry, when He had cleansed the Temple from those who had made it a “house of merchandise,” the Jews had asked Him, “What sign showest Thou unto us, seeing that Thou doest these things?” Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:14-19). Thinking that He was referring to the structure of Herod’s Temple, the Jews replied, “Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt Thou rear it up in three days?” (John 2:20). The Lord never did explain to them, or to His disciples, what He meant. However, after He rose from the dead, His disciples “remembered that He had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said” (John 2:22). In recording the event, John added this inspired editorial comment: “But He spake of the temple of His body” (John 2:21).
These witnesses even wrested what Jesus said. He did not say HE would destroy the Temple, but that THEY would – and even then, He was speaking of the Temple of His body. However, these witnesses had no interest in the truth, even though the Law pointedly required that a “diligent inquisition” be made concerning the truth of a capital charge. Further, any false witnesses were to be duly punished (Deut 19:15-21). Thus, in the name of the Law, the high priest and his motley court broke the Law themselves, while Jesus did not.
NEITHER DID THEIR WITNESS AGREE. Other versions read, “And not even in this respect was their testimony consistent”(Mark 14:59). In some way, the words of these witnesses were at variance with one another. The particular disagreement is not specified, signifying that the report of the charge is a summation, and not a word-for-word statement. It is an invariable principle that a mental house cannot be build with the bricks of lies. Falsehoods cannot be put together in a cohesive manner. This is why imaginations and high thoughts can be pulled down and cast down (2 Cor 10:4-5). They are put together with statements and concepts that are not true. Those expert in spiritual warfare are able to dismantle false doctrines and statements, showing them to be erroneous.
THE HIGH PRIEST ASKS JESUS ABOUT HIS DOCTRINE
“ JOHN 18:19 The high priest then asked Jesus of His disciples, and of His doctrine. 20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. 21 Why askest thou Me? ask them which heard Me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said. 22 And when He had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? 23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me? 24 Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.”
THE HIGH PRIEST ASKS JESUS OF HIS DISCIPLES AND DOCTRINE. Only John records this interrogation. It apparently took place following the failure to find any consistent false witnesses against Jesus. Without these witnesses, according to the Law, the capital case should have been dropped. “At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death” (Deut 17:6). Ignoring this Divine mandate, the high priest proceeds with the interrogation of Jesus.
This inquiry concerning Jesus’ disciples and doctrine was not an honest one. This very high priest, Caiaphas, had been involved in a discussion about Jesus earlier (John 11:47-53). The “chief priests,” which are understood to include the high priest, had opposed Jesus throughout His ministry (Matt 16:21). They had seen his wonderful works (Matt 21:15), had asked about His authority (Matt 21:23), heard His parables (Matt 21:45), and had even sent officers to arrest Him (John 7:32).
I SPAKE OPENLY. The Lord Jesus will not dignify the demand of Caiaphas with an accounting of Himself. Instead, He points out that He had not taught secretly, but openly. He was in the synagogues and in the Temple – places where the Jews “always resort.” I cannot help but note how things have deteriorated under the leadership of the Gentiles. Now, those who claim identity with the Lord are rarely noted for resorting to public gathering places, where the Word of God is read and expounded, and prayers are made. However, Jesus refers to a people who had been cultured by God by means of the Law, the ordinances, and holy prophets. Whatever deficiencies they may have had, they knew their lives centered in matters “pertaining to God” (Heb 2:17; 5:1).
There were times when Jesus spoke to and spent time with His disciples “privately” (Matt 24:3; Mk 6:32; 9:28; 13:3; Lk 9:10; 10:23). However, in every case, it was only after He had been speaking and working publically. Speaking of the life and death of Jesus, Paul said to Agrippa, “This thing was not done in a corner” (Acts 26:26). Among men, there is a penchant for secret orders. Most all lodges and fraternities are noted for their secrecy, and for their private teachings, known only to the members of the organization. Most religious cults are noted for their secrecy, and private teachings, which are withheld from the masses. When Jesus taught His disciples privately, He expounded what He had said openly.
ASK THEM THAT HEARD ME. Those who heard the scribes knew what they taught (Matt 17:10). Jesus assures the high priest that those who heard Him knew what He had said as well. Here He does not single out His disciples, but opens the inquiry to the masses who heard Him during the last three years. People from throughout Canaan had heard Him, as well as representatives from Syria (Matt 4:24), Decapolis and “beyond Jordan” (Matt 4:25), and Idumaea and Tyre and Sidon (Mk 3:8). His “fame” had gone “abroad into all the land” (Matt 9:16), and it concerned what He had said and done. If it was information concerning what Jesus said and did, there was certainly no lack of witnesses.
It ought to be noted that what is taught in the name of the Lord should be public. The truth of God is not to be held in secret, or withheld from the people. While it is true that discretion is often required, as when Jesus spoke in parables, yet it was public, so that anyone intrigued by the truth was at liberty to pursue it, and make further inquiry into it.
ONE OF THE OFFICERS STRUCK HIM. Hearing the answer, one of the officers, who had more respect for Caiaphas than for Jesus, struck him with the palm of his hand. The NIV reads, “struck Him in the face.” He felt that Jesus owed respect to the high priest. Little did he know that the Lord could have struck him dead with a single word. But this was an hour given over to the power of darkness, and for the very first time a man struck the Lord’s Christ. With perfect composure Jesus challenged the man who struck him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou Me?” (John 18:23). The Lord does not give this man the option of remaining silent. Here was an opportunity for the man to examine his deed.
This is a microcosm of the day of judgment, when those who have treated Jesus as though He was not Lord will be called to either witness against Him, or explain their insolence. As it is written, God will be justified in all of His sayings (Rom 3:4).
JESUS HOLDS HIS PEACE WHEN THE CHARGE IS MADE
“ 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest Thou nothing? what is it which these witness against Thee? 61 But He held His peace, and
answered nothing . . .”
The picture being presented here is that of a high priest in a state of total frustration. Together with his cohorts they have meticuously planned this moment. They have even hired Judas to ensure that they took hold of Jesus apart from the multitudes. There has been a call for witnesses – false witnesses – to come forward and testify against Jesus, thereby fulfilling the Law of Moses. However, after a long and tedious effort, they cannot find two witnesses who are in accord in what they say. Even when two witnesses are found who present the same testimony of what they heard Jesus say, there is disagreement between them. On top of it all, Jesus has not responded to a single charge, and has even refused to testify concerning His disciples and what He has taught.
ANSWEREST THOU NOTHING? The conduct of Jesus is in stark contrast with that of a person seeking his own will, or attempting to promote His own interests. His life had been lived in the public, and his teaching has been in public places, where the Jews could always be found. It does not make sense to the flesh to be silent in the face of false charges. Indeed, there were times when Jesus was not silent – but this is not one of them
WHAT IS IT THAT THESE WITNESS AGAINST THEE? Other versions read, “What do have to say for yourself?” LIVING and “What they are saying against you – is it true?” IE Is the witness true or false? Is it right or wrong? No doubt the high priest had in mind the convoluted witness of the two men who just testified. He might also have hoped that some of the other incongruent charges made against Jesus would be answered. Earlier, when the council had gathered to discuss how they could get rid of Jesus, Nicodemus had asked, “Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?” (John 7:51). Moses had taught the people that in a trial they were to hear the small and the great, and to do so without respect of persons (Deut 1:17). The Law even specified that when a case was too difficult, they were to go to a place God would designate, go to the experts in the Law, and obtain a verdict in keeping with the will of the Lord (Deut 17:8-11). Furthermore, difficult cases were also to be public, with false witnesses being punished with the same action they had sought against the accused. In doing this, Moses said “And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you” (Deut 19:20).
None of these procedures were carried out in the trial of Jesus. There were no judges who made “diligent inquisition” concerning what was true and what was false (Deut 19:18). The aim here was to justify what men had predetermined was true. Further, their determination was based on their preference for themselves, not the truth.
While not laboring the point, this sort of conduct is the inevitable result of focusing on an institution, as compared to being taken up with the Person of Christ and the truth of God. Whenever an emphasis is adopted that is not in harmony with the revealed heavenly agenda, there is an inevitable clash with the truth. However, those caught on the horns of this dilemma will not yield to the truth, just as the high priest and the council would not do so. In order to abandon an institutional emphasis, men must first see and be convinced of the absolute superiority of Jesus, and the singularity of His truth. Where these are not found, men will always oppose the truth, taking that opposition as far as they possibly can.
HE HELD HIS PEACE. Other versions read, “He kept silent, and made no answer,” NASB and “Jesus continued to be silent.” LIVING In His refusal to answer, Jesus was fulfilling the word of Isaiah: “He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth” (Isa 53:7). He did not speak in His own defense because He was not in the hands of the high priest and his corrupt council, but was in the heart of the will of His Father. He knew why He had come into the world. Prior to the commencement of these events, when He was yet among the people, He said: “Now is My soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour” (John 12:27). Now, having obtained strength from a heavenly messenger (Lk 22:43), He sheathes the sword that proceeds from His mouth (Rev 19:15), and holds His peace. This is not the time to fight, but is rather the time to submit.
Surely He thought of the words of David, with whom the Scripture identifies Him: “I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred” (Psa 39:1-2). And again, “I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because Thou didst it” (Psa 39:9). It was not because of what Caiaphas was doing that Jesus held His peace, but because of what God was doing – delivering Him up “for us all” (Rom 8:32). Blessed is the person who, having the spirit of Christ, knows when to keep silence and cease to defend himself!