The Trial – Mark 14:53-15:20

Jesus Before the Council

53 And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. 54 And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire. 55 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. 56 For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. 57 And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’” 59 Yet even about this their testimony did not agree. 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? 64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. 65 And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows.

Peter Denies Jesus

66 And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, 67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed. 69 And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” 70 But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” 71 But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” 72 And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Jesus Delivered to Pilate

15 And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. 2 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” 3 And the chief priests accused him of many things. 4 And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” 5 But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified

6 Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. 7 And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. 8 And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. 9 And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. 12 And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” 13 And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” 14 And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Jesus Is Mocked

16 And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor's headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. 17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.

Summary

After Jesus was arrested, they led him to Caiaphas, the high priest. Peter was following behind Jesus at a distance. The chief priest and whole council were seeking for a reason to put Jesus to death but they couldn’t find anything. Many people bore false witness against Jesus but their testimonies did not agree. Caiaphas questioned Jesus but He remained silent. Again Caiaphas asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of Heaven.” (Mark 14:61-62) At this, Caiaphas tore his clothes and accused Jesus of blasphemy. They covered Jesus face, spit on Him and began to hit Him in the face asking Him to prophesy who was hitting Him.  

Peter was below in the courtyard and denied knowing Jesus three times. Immediately the rooster crowed a second time and Peter remembered that Jesus told him that before the rooster crows twice, he will deny Him three times. Peter then broke down and wept.  

In the morning, the chief priest, elders and scribes bound Jesus and sent Him to Pilate. Pilate began to question Jesus asking Him if He was King of the Jews. Jesus replied, “You have said so.” The chief priest continued to accuse Him of many things and Pilate asked for a response. Jesus stood silent.  

It was customary for Pilate to release a prisoner at the feast. Pilate asked the crowd if he should release Jesus, but the crowd insisted that Barabbas, a murderer, be released. Pilate then asked the crowd what he should do with Jesus and they began to yell, “Crucify Him!”. Pilate asked the crowd what He had done but they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!”. Pilate released Barabbas because he wanted to please the crowd. Jesus was scourged and sent to be crucified.  

The soldiers led him away and put Him in a purple cloak. They twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on Him. They began to mock Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!”. After striking His head, spitting on Him, mocking Him, and taking the purple cloak off Him they led Him out to crucify Him.  

At this point, things were feeling hopeless and dark. Jesus was heading to be crucified and no one was quite sure what was going to happen.  

HEAR about it:

What did you HEAR from God’s word today? Use the HEAR method (Highlight, Explain, Apply, and Respond), to examine today’s passage. If you need to know more about the HEAR method, click here.

Talk about it:

• Why did Peter deny knowing Jesus?  

• Why did Caiaphas tear his clothes when Jesus said He was the Son of God?  

• Why did Jesus allow Himself to be beaten and led away to be crucified?