WHO ARE YOU?
Opening Prayer
Jesus, I love You. Take all my doubts and fears and questions. Show me who You really are.
Read Mark 14:53–65
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
53 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. 54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.
55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
60 Then 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?” 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
63 The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. 64 “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”
They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.
New International Version (NIV)
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Reflect
Where do your ideas of Jesus come from? The Bible? Church? Popular culture? Tradition?“Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” (61). Was Jesus really the Son of God or a fraud?
The high priest speaks as though he is expecting a Son of God and a Messiah – after all, hadn’t Isaiah said as much (Isaiah 9:7)? But was Jesus the one? So, he asks Him straight out. Note that Jesus had remained silent at the false accusations of His accusers (61), but He answers this question (62). The high priest’s reaction of tearing his clothes tells us that this was the moment he was waiting for – blasphemous condemnation from the man’s own lips (63, 64)! His public display of displeasure is mirrored in Matthew 27:51 when the Temple curtain is torn in two (See Craig S Keener, IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, 1993).
In response to the high priest’s question, Jesus replies, “I am” (62). But Jesus knew He was also standing in the presence of His heavenly Father. The Father knew who Jesus was. The question is, do we?
Apply
Does Jesus ever “disappoint” you? What He does or says doesn’t fit with your image of who you think Jesus should be? Open your hands and surrender to Jesus today, trusting that He knows best.
Closing prayer
Jesus, I want to follow You for who You are, not for who the culture says You are or who I think I want You to be.
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