Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men laid hold of him, and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked. (Mark 14:51-52) Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. (John 18:12-14)
In the previous lesson, all the disciples ...forsook Him and fled. (Matthew 26:56; Mark 14:50; see THE GOSPEL: Jesus is Betrayed and Arrested; The Word is The Truth) Now we know there was at least one other person following them, a young man. It is believed that that "certain young man" is Mark, who wrote the Book of Mark based on what the Apostle Peter shared with him. But here we have Jesus being arrested and eventually taken before the high priest. In 18, the Roman governor Valerius Gratus appointed Caiaphas as high priest in Jerusalem. He served between 18 and 37 CE, an exceptionally long time. (read "Caiaphas")
As stated above, Caiaphas had previously said, when the Jewish religious leaders first started plotting to kill Jesus, And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. (John 11:49-52) He didn't even realize it, but God prophesied through Him that ...if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (I John 2:1-2)
The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.” And
when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck
Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest
like that?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?” (John 18:19-23)
When Jesus prayed to the Father previously for His disciples, He said in that prayer, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." (John 17:17) God's Word is the Truth, and Jesus is reiterating that that is all He's ever said, openly to the world, in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always met; and in secret He said nothing, nothing to the contrary. All those religious leaders and standby's who heard Him speak, indeed they knew what He said. We also have "heard" what Jesus said, by reading and studying The Word; and those of us ...when you received the word of God which you heard..., you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. (I Thessalonians 2:13) The Word of God can change and save anyone, we just have to have "...ears to hear, let him hear!”
Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. (John 18:24) Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance. (Luke 22:54) And they
led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were assembled all the
chief priests, the elders, and the scribes. (Mark 14:53) Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree. Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying, "We
heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within
three days I will build another made without hands.’[John 2:13-21]” But not even then did their testimony agree. (Mark 14:55-59; Matthew 26:57, 59-61) If that's not like the devil, take a true statement out of context and turn it into a lie. (Genesis 3:1-5)
And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus said, “I am. [*It is as
you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter...] And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:60-62; *Matthew 26:62-64) Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. (Mark 14:63-64; Matthew 26:65-66)
The high priest tore his clothes as an outward showing that he "believed" Jesus to be a blasphemer against God. Interestingly enough, God always desired of the Jews and their religious leaders, “Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. (Joel 2:12-13) All the outward show of religious piety can fool man, but it can't fool God. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him. And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?” And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him. (Luke 22:63-65; Matthew 26:67-68; Mark 14:65) They accused Jesus of being a blasphemer, but many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him. This is just the beginning of the things they would do to Jesus, For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (II Corinthians 5:21)
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