The Answer Of Silence

And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing. Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!” But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.  Mark 15:3-5

A testimony making allegations carries too much weight many times in our world today. Sometimes a person is convicted in the public arena before a trial even comes. A trial is held to determine the truth, but some think that the trial is proof of the crime. But Pilate wasn't the public, and he had dealt with the chief priests before. Jesus, for his part, answered those questions he could not deny, as we studied last week. These accusations then must have been spurious nonsense. Jesus stood silent, refusing to give the allegations weight by his denial. And sadly, those set as watchmen for the coming Messiah, were the ones demanding the death of the Messiah. Jesus gave to them the answer of silence, and the Roman governor marveled. 

May God our Father raise you up this week,

Bucky

Enabled To Believe

Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate. Then Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
He answered and said to him, “It is as you say.”
-- Mark 15:1-2

Last night I noticed a little stupid fluttering about. So I grabbed it and fondled it a bit. Upon finding out that I had not done what I thought I had done, and that what I was trying to do was doubling the problem, I stopped and corrected the first part and then was able to do the second. Then I let the stupid go on its way. If you are past childhood, but not yet suffering from A.G.E. you will not understand all that.

Meanwhile, back in the scriptures. Jesus has been taken, in restraints, to the Roman authority. Why? The Jewish religious authorities wanted their Roman overseers to take the life of this son of the tribe of Judah. Pilate, perhaps thinking to be smart or funny, asks Jesus one question, "Are you the king of the Jews?" The high priest had asked Jesus a question that Jesus answered similarly, "It is as you say". So, Jesus claimed to be the Christ, the Son of God, and King of Israel. The question is, what does each person believe about that? The priests, Pharisees, scribes, and (nearly) all the Sanhedrin have refused to believe Jesus. What will Pilate do?

Praise God that we were enabled to believe in Jesus!

Bucky

Three Times Denied

A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought about it, he wept. Mark 14:72

Jesus had already said that whoever denies Him before men would be denied by Him in heaven. Peter may have thought of that as he wept. But, it is also tough to come face to face with your weakness. Peter was among those pledging their lives to defend Jesus, but they fled and he denied. But also, it is disheartening to have a prophecy of your cowardice in the face of little servant girls come to pass. How precious then becomes the forgiveness of Jesus Christ as we face our sinful weakness?

Rejoice in Christ, we have some good company in the saints,

Bucky

Eulogetos, The Blessed; No, Dynamis, The Power

Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”
Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”  Mark 14:61-62

The high priest had this man from Nazareth right where he wanted the man to stand for a conviction. But after several false witnesses couldn't get their fabrications to agree, the priest, exasperated, asked Jesus of Nazareth a direct question. Jesus, silent before the false witnesses, answered a question He would not deny - He was indeed that man. However, when the high priest used the name of God for blessed, Jesus came back with the name for power or miracle. In other words, while the high priest thought he was standing with God on his side, Jesus would return with the real power, and priestly-boy would get to witness it first hand. I couldn't find the Greek word for 'uh-oh!' to place here. 

Believe in the Miracle, He returns soon!

Bucky

The Betrayer Comes

"See, My betrayer is at hand.”
And immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Mark 14:42b-43

In the dead of night and with a useful traitor, the religious authorities finally muster the courage to act against Jesus. Of course they don't come themselves. Jesus knew what was up and called out the plays as they began to arrive in a great multitude armed with swords and clubs. Judas Iscariot has just made a name for himself that will last through this age. The authorities needed a traitor, and Judas provided them one for a mere 30 pieces of silver - the price of a slave in those times. As the gospel of Jesus has spread around the world, so has the infamy of Judas Iscariot. That was probably not his intention when Judas started down this road.

Better for us, I think, to promote the name of Jesus Christ than to make a name for ourselves.

Bucky

Someone Represented Us

And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” Mark 14:36

Jesus, the Son of God, prayed in the garden at Gethsemane one night. Strangely, he did not pray as God praying to God, but as a human praying - a son of man. God wouldn't need to pray that His will not be done, the scriptures consistently tell us that He wants His will to be done. Jesus prays as a man submitting his will to the will of God. How extraordinary! All of this because Jesus was about to be the sacrificial lamb, the scapegoat, that we need to atone for our sins. God the Son knelt down before God the Father and represented us the sinners.

And without Jesus we have no hope,

Bucky

The Test

Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14:37-38

We read some strong words from Peter about not falling, not denying, and even dying for Jesus. The Lord then tested this man's faith by having him keep watch for one hour. Peter failed. Such an easy task for the test too, we think. Some of us have experience in keeping watch, and we know that this is not so easy. Later in the night, a full meal the prior evening, a little walk to get there, and the peace of a night in a garden when everyone else is in bed sleeping combine to make keeping an alert watch difficult. Another difficulty in staying awake on watch can be emotions. Too much fear can make one sleepy. A time of emotional stress, such as the disciples had when Jesus told of His arrest and death during the meal, can cause one to be worn out even without a serious physical exertion. Keeping watch for one hour - not so easy as it may seem in the morning with the sun shining.

Metaphorically speaking, we are keeping watch for one hour while Jesus makes intercession for us with His Father, God. Let us keep watch in the strength of Christ our Lord.

Bucky