In the Middle of the Brackets
| 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. Many testified falsely against Him, but their statements did not agree. Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against Him: "We heard Him say, 'I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.' " Yet even then their testimony did not agree. 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?" But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" "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." The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. "You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" They all condemned Him as worthy of death. 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. (Mark14:55-65) |
Between the brackets of Peter's denial we have a very different scenario.
The sinless Son of God is being tried in a kangaroo court of the Religious Mafia of the day.
And they can't even get their lies to stick...
So the high priest wades in.
He's the "big gun."
He'll make something stick.
His strategy is ironic.
He asks the most important question of them all.
"Are you the Messiah - the Son of God?"
I can imagine a goose-bumpy silence settling over the room.
A positive answer should be met with awe and worship.
Here it will be met with disbelief, judgement and a death sentence.
Jesus not only answers affirmatively, but explosively.
He answers using the "I am" formula and He follows that by quoting the enthronement prophecies of Daniel 7 and Psalm 110.
It's an announcement of impending judgement.
"Yes, I am the glorious Son of God and you will see how wrong you were"
While Peter ducks the truth and the disciples run away.
Jesus stands calmly before the council and,
as He makes Himself subject to this perversion of what faith should be,
tells the truth.
The consequences of this truth are devastating.
They condemn Him to the cross and mock and torture Him.
This is the full extent of His love for us...
PS: I like to use capital letters for divine pronouns.
It's not conventional, but it's my little subversive act of worship.
Today it was tough to put in the capitals.
They all condemned Him as worthy of death...
Then some began to spit at Him...
they blindfolded Him...
struck Him with their fists...
And the guards took Him and beat Him...
Oh how He loves us!
