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Trials and Denials (Mark 14:53-15:20)
When Abraham was an old man he thought he was beyond
having children but God promised him a son. Whatever Abraham thought was
happening, God was in control and kept his promise. When Joshua marched
his army around Jericho the residents must have thought him crazy. The
walls came tumbling down whatever people thought. When Elijah challenged
the priests of Baal to build an altar and call on their god for fire then
drenched his own altar with water before calling on the Lord they thought
him crazy. But whatever people thought, Baal failed to send fire while
Jehovah burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the altar and the water. When
young David went out to meet Goliath those watching thought this the greatest
folly - or the biggest joke depending on whose side they were on. However,
it was God's chosen man who prevailed and Goliath who lay slain.
As you look at the trial of Jesus what do you think is happening?
Judging the Judge
"The high priest, chief priests, elders and teachers in the law" thought
they finally had the man they had been seeking to kill for so long. They
were looking for evidence against him, we are told, but couldn't find
any. However, that wasn't going to stop a resourceful group of movers
and shakers like these. They thought they were in charge and if they wanted
evidence then evidence they would have and judgement they would pronounce.
People can be like that. Faced with Jesus they begin to judge the Judge
of all but even as they think they are judging him they are being judged.
Seeking the sun
"Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him." The movers
and shakers wanted witnesses and some other people wanted to be heard,
noticed. It was the chance to bask in the sunshine of other people's attention.
People can be like that. They hear things about Jesus, such as his walking
on ice instead of water, the idea that he was simply a good teacher whose
story got embellished, or the notion that Judas was simply faithfully
serving God in betraying Jesus and got an undeserved bad press. An opportunity
comes to share their favourite theory and an opportunity to bask in the
Son is lost in a rush for what they think is earthly glory.
Playing at politics
"Pilate [knew] it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus
over to him." If the chief priests, etc. thought they were movers and
shakers Pilate knew he was. He knew that Jesus' fate was in his hands.
He knew that the Jewish leaders hung on his decision to accomplish their
ends. He knew that much might be gained from this situation and, by the
time he had finished, he thought he had gained a lot. We are told that
the crowd swore allegiance to Caesar and that Pilate mended fences in
his hitherto rocky relationship with Herod Antipas. People can be like
that. Jesus, to them, is an asset, a commodity in whose name they think
they can achieve their own ends.
Mocking the Messiah
"The soldiers…put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown
of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, 'Hail,
king of the Jews!' Again and again they struck him on the head with a
staff and spat on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him.
And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put on
his own clothes." People can be like that. To them Jesus is a figure of
fun, his followers the butt of jokes. With no idea of who he is, they
mock the Messiah who stands before them offering salvation and think it's
just a bit of fun.
Failing a friend
"[Peter] began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, 'I
don't know this man you're talking about.'" What was Peter thinking? Perhaps
he thought things were all going terribly wrong? Perhaps he thought it
was each man for himself and the only way out was to go on his instinct.
We know that immediately the words were out of his mouth 'Peter remembered
the words Jesus had spoken to him…and he broke down and wept.'" Christians
can be like that. Things go wrong and we believe the evidence of our eyes
instead of the promises of God. We begin to go quiet about our faith,
become more like the world. We can begin to judge God and question his
claims. We might go as far as seeking a reputation as an 'expert' on why
things didn't work as expected and enjoy our moment in the sun. We might
even begin to play politics with our 'previous experience', working and
speaking against the faith we once knew. We might even get as far as mocking
the Lord we once loved, betraying him in our denial of him.
What do you think is happening in the world as we approach Easter? Is
the Son of God reconciling a lost world to his Father? Or are we in the
hands of fallible, even corrupt politicians, at the mercy of ruthless
and deluded terrorists? Is God still in charge, as he was for Abraham,
Joshua, Elijah, and David? The Bible says he is - what about you?