Mark 14: 32-72, Trial

Jesus now expects to be arrested, aware of the plot of Judas to hand him over to the religious authorities.

Mark 14:32-40, Despair in Gethsemane
They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch."

Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.  <"Abba>, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?  Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

"Abba" is Aramaic for Father.  Jesus uses a child's word to address God, addressing God as "Daddy."  We too, led by the Holy Spirit, can make that same cry, says Paul, in Romans 8:15 & Galatians 4:6.

Mark 14: 41-49, Judas arrives
Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"

Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. 

Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard." Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him.

The men seized Jesus and arrested him. Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

"Am I leading a rebellion," said Jesus, "that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me?

Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled."

Jesus returns from his time of prayer with renewed confidence.  "It's game time," he seems to say to the disciples, as he sees the armed crowd approach.

Mark 14: 50-52, A young man flees
Then everyone deserted him and fled. A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.

Only the Gospel of Mark mentions this young man fleeing without his robes.  Some suggest, then, that this was probably John Mark, the eventual author of this gospel.

Mark 14: 53-61, Trial before the high priest
They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders and teachers of the law came together.  Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire. 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?"

The Jewish leaders are struggling to find some pretext for killing Jesus.  But he had done nothing wrong.  Desperate, they attempt to get Jesus to convict himself.

Mark 14: 62-65, The Messiah, King of the Jews
"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.

It is blasphemy for a mere mortal to claim to be God. But it is not blasphemy for God to make that claim!  The high priest barrels right past the claims of this long awaited Messiah, so that he can achieve his goal, death to the man who he sees as a threat.  It is a sad scene here: the high priest, so focused on his own agenda, completely misses the divine Miracle in front of him.

Mark 14: 66-72, Peter's betrayal
While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by.When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. "You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus," she said.

But he denied it. "I don't know or understand what you're talking about," he said, and went out into the entryway.

When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, "This fellow is one of them."  Again he denied it. 

After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean."  He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, "I don't know this man you're talking about."

Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times." And he broke down and wept.

Peter's accent and mannerisms make him identifiable as coming from the region of Galilee, just like the man on trial.  And many bystanders had listened to Jesus speak and had been among his disciples. So Peter is recognizable to some, especially the servant girl!

The Jews need for the Romans now to also convict Jesus.  So the second part of the trial continues in chapter 15, reaching its foregone conclusion.