Mark 14:53-65

Mark 14:53-65 … These verses tell of the ugly religious trials of Jesus before the Sanhedrin (the ruling religious council). The Sanhedrin was grossly and morally corrupt. They even attempted to cultivate false witnesses against Jesus so that they could make their case with the civil authority (Pontius Pilate) for an execution. Only the civil governor had authority for public executions because of tight controls by the Roman government. The religious trials (there were several) took place in the middle of the night so they could get Jesus before Pilate early the next morning. The suffering, brutality and sleep deprivation began that night and continued without letup. Out of frustration, hatred and without compassion, the high priest himself approached the bruised and battered Christ still seeking incriminating evidence. The direct question comes in Mark 14:61 “are you the Christ?” … and Jesus answers clearly “I am.” But there’s more. Jesus also quotes from a passage in the prophecy of Daniel about the Christ, telling the Sanhedrin that they would see The Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven. Some feel that Jesus, while quoting from Daniel and applying the prophecy to Himself, is not talking about the Second Coming, but of His Ascension, going in the clouds to the right hand of the Father in Heaven.