Mark for Lent 36
Today Jesus is questioned by the council comprising the chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses. Meanwhile, Peter says that he doesn’t know Jesus.
Jesus Is Questioned by the Council (Matthew 26.57-68; Luke 22.54,55,63-71; John 18.13,14,19-24)
53Jesus was led off to the high priest. Then the chief priests, the nation’s leaders, and the teachers of the Law of Moses all met together. 54Peter had followed at a distance. And when he reached the courtyard of the high priest’s house, he sat down with the guards to warm himself beside a fire.
55The chief priests and the whole council tried to find someone to accuse Jesus of a crime, so they could put him to death. But they could not find anyone to accuse him. 56Many people did tell lies against Jesus, but they did not agree on what they said. 57Finally, some men stood up and lied about him. They said, 58″We heard him say he would tear down this temple that we built. He also claimed that in three days he would build another one without any help.” 59But even then they did not agree on what they said.60The high priest stood up in the council and asked Jesus, “Why don’t you say something in your own defense? Don’t you hear the charges they are making against you?” 61But Jesus kept quiet and did not say a word. The high priest asked him another question, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the glorious God?” [a]
62″Yes, I am!” Jesus answered.
“Soon you will see
the Son of Man
sitting at the right side [b]
of God All-Powerful,
and coming with the clouds
of heaven.”
63At once the high priest ripped his robe apart and shouted, “Why do we need more witnesses? 64You heard him claim to be God! What is your decision?” They all agreed that he should be put to death.
65Some of the people started spitting on Jesus. They blindfolded him, hit him with their fists, and said, “Tell us who hit you!” Then the guards took charge of Jesus and beat him.
Peter Says He Doesn’t Know Jesus (Matthew 26.69-75; Luke 22.56-62; John 18.15-18,25-27)
66While Peter was still in the courtyard, a servant girl of the high priest came up 67and saw Peter warming himself by the fire. She stared at him and said, “You were with Jesus from Nazareth!”
68Peter replied, “That isn’t true! I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t have any idea what you mean.” He went out to the gate, and a rooster crowed. [c]69The servant girl saw Peter again and said to the people standing there, “This man is one of them!”
70″No, I’m not!” Peter replied.
A little while later some of the people said to Peter, “You certainly are one of them. You’re a Galilean!”
71This time Peter began to curse and swear, “I don’t even know the man you’re talking about!”
72Right away the rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had told him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” So Peter started crying.
Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society
April 10th, 2006 at 12:24 pm
A politically charged atmosphere has developed which has generated sufficient fear for Peter to deny knowledge of Jesus. Jesus’ silence when asked to defend himself makes sense when no coherent and corroborated charge can be presented for him to argue against. Good legal advice there. He is obviously not trying to snub the judicial process when he responds in the affirmative to the question, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the glorious God?”. Seems Jesus did not follow legal advice that time.
This seems one of the easier passages to understand from Mark. Perhaps the administration of justice in Roman times has some similarity with our own.
April 12th, 2006 at 11:50 am
Another one of Mark’s story within a story structures. Peter’s actions surround Jesus’ trial. I noticed how the accusation against Jesus were all wrong and contradictory the accusations against Peter were spot on.
For all the times the disciples have not listened to Jesus, not seen what he was saying and doing, not followed him - here is Peter following at a distance. Maybe his is like the half-healed blind man who at first only saw people walking around like trees. Maybe Peter is like me, who would like to think I get it more than others but still am not standing next to Jesus on trial for my life. Sadly, half-following Jesus = still denying Jesus.
While the case of the leaders and so called teachers of hte Law of Moses is shown to lack authority. Where as Jesus seems so convinced that the words of Daniel are about to be fulfilled:
“Soon you will see the Son of Man
sitting at the right side of God All-Powerful,
and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
Was the high priest overracting? The priest says “You heard Jesus claim to be God!” But I’m not sure I did. Certainly Jesus was claiming a special relationship with God but I’m not sure that Jesus went as far has the priest claimed here.
Look at how ugly the abuse of power is. As soon as someone is declared other enough he is fit for death, he can be spat on, he can be tourtured, beaten etc.
“This seems one of the easier passages to understand from Mark. Perhaps the administration of ‘IN’justice in Roman times has some similarity with our own.”