The Silent Accused: Mark 14:53-65

They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders, and teachers of the law assembled. Peter followed at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest, where he sat with the guards, warming himself at the fire.

Inside, the trial was a travesty. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. Many testified falsely, but their statements did not agree.

Finally some stood up and gave false testimony: "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.'"

Even then their testimony did not agree. The accusation twisted his words—he had spoken of his body, not the building—but the witnesses could not coordinate their lies.

The high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?"

Jesus remained silent. He gave no answer. The lamb before its shearers, dumb.

Again the high priest asked, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?"

Now Jesus spoke: "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

I am. The divine name on human lips. No more veiling, no more parables, no more messianic secret. In the moment when silence would have been safer, Jesus declared who he was.

The high priest tore his robes. "Why do we need any more witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?"

They all condemned him as worthy of death.

Then the degradation began. Some began to spit at him. They blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, "Prophesy!" The guards took him and beat him.

The Son of God, blindfolded, mocked, spat upon, beaten. The hands that had healed lepers received only blows. The face that had shone on the mount of transfiguration was covered in spit.

And Peter sat by the fire, watching from a distance, about to fail spectacularly.