Mark

By Joyce Webb 2023

Chapter 14    Verse 53-72

Verse 53 The guards led Jesus away from the garden.
They took him to the Jewish High Priest. There were other priests and Jewish church leaders there, too.

Verse 54 Peter— had told Jesus that he would never deny (say he did not know Jesus)—-he followed the guards and Jesus.

He followed them “a far off”. Meaning–he stayed far behind them so they would not see that he was following.

Peter thought he would be brave. But when the time came, and all those guards were there—Peter became afraid.

Peter did follow all the way to the palace of the high priest.

He sat with the servants—they were underneath the building— in an open porch area or courtyard. It was cool in the evening and they had a fire-pit.
Verse 55 Inside the building—–the priests and other leaders talked about what they would do to Jesus. They wanted him put to death.

(The Jewish people were ruled over by the Romans. The Jewish people were not allowed to put people to death for crimes. Only the Roman leaders were allowed to decide that.

If the Jewish leaders thought that someone should die for their crimes—-they had to get permission from the Roman government to do that.)

Verse 56 The priests and leaders had brought in people to witness against Jesus. The Bible calls them false witnesses.

They were men who had been willing to say things against Jesus.

They probably had been paid to do it. They may not have even known much about Jesus.

However—things did not work out well. As the men gave their “testimony”—-things they said did not agree with each other. They were saying things that were the opposite of what someone else said.

It was not making any sense. The priests and leaders could not use their testimony because none of it agreed.

Verse 57 -59 Some of the men said “We heard him say that he would destroy the temple—and he would re-build it in 3 days.”

(When Jesus said that—he was talking to his disciples and Jesus was talking about his own body being “the temple”. Jesus was telling them that his body would be destroyed but in 3 days he would have his body again.”)

Verse 59 None of the men’s stories agreed.

Verse 60 The High Priest stood up and asked Jesus—”Why are you not answering these men when they say these things against you?

Verse 61 But Jesus did not say anything. The High Priest asked him—”Are you the Christ–the Son of the Blesssed?”

Verse 62 Jesus said, “ I am. You will see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”

Verse 63 When the High Priest heard this—he ripped his robe.

(This was a sign—long ago—of someone in great sorrow, or pain, or upset. Clothing was expensive. People did not have many pieces of clothing like today.

The High Priest’s clothing was a special robe only he was to wear.

The Old Testament (Leviticus 21:10, 10:6—-said that the priest was not to rip his special robe)

Yet, here after Jesus’ words—the High Priest ripped his robe.

Verse 64 The High Priest then said—”You have heard his words—it is blasphemy. (Meaning it is terrible words against God and not showing respect— speaking evil against God.)

The High Priest asked the others—”What do you think?”

The group of leaders agreed that what Jesus said was “blasphemy” against God.

(They did not believe that Jesus was God’s son. So when Jesus said that he was God’s Son——they said —he was an ordinary man —but saying he was God’s son—-that was blaspheming God.)

Verse 65 Some of the leaders began to spit on Jesus.

They covered his face—then some of them hit him—then they said–”Tell us—who hit you?”

(Meaning—if Jesus was God—even if he could not see them—he would still know who hit him.)

But—Jesus did not answer them.

Verse 66-67 Peter was still with the servants. One of the serving girls saw Peter and she said—”You were with Jesus of Nazareth.”

Verse 68 Peter said, “No, I do not know what you are talking about.”
Then Peter went on onto a porch. He heard a rooster crow.

(Jesus had been taken from the garden late at night. They had been at the High Priest’s place all night and it was now becoming morning.)

Verse 69 The serving girl saw Peter again—-and she said to other men standing by—”This man was with Jesus. He is one of them.”

Verse 70 Peter said, “No.”

After awhile, the men said to Peter, “Yes, you must be with Jesus, because you speak like someone from Galilee.”

Verse 71 Peter began to curse—and to swear—saying—”I do not know this man.”

Verse 72 Then Peter heard the rooster crow again.

Then Peter remembered what Jesus said—-”Before the rooster crows 2 times—you will have said you don’t know me—3 times..

Peter realized—that is what happened.

He was so sure he would be brave and stay true to Jesus.

But 3 times –he just said he did not know Jesus.

Peter felt so bad about denying that he knew Jesus–that he left and he wept—cried—deeply and with great sorrow.