Mark 14:53-65
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.
Reflection
Jesus stands innocently before the council and is accused. In this moment we are reminded of the accusation that we ourselves rightly deserve. We are the guilty ones. We deserve the judgment Jesus received, yet he did not defend himself, even though he rightfully could have. Why was he silent? As the hymn says, “In our place condemned he stood.” The heart of the gospel is on display here: substitution. Christ took our place of condemnation, and we freely receive the gift of being released.
Galatians 3:19-26
19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.
21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
Reflection
If the law of Moses was given after the promise of blessing had been made to Abraham (Gal. 3:17), and if the law does not lead to life (3:10), what then was its purpose? One of its purposes was to “imprison” God’s people by revealing their sinfulness, so that they would crave freedom from sin and its consequences (vv. 22–23). The law, therefore, was like a “guardian” for God’s people, guarding and guiding Israel until they reached maturity. The demanding requirements of the law imprisoned past generations in guilt and served to eventually guide them toward faith in Christ. Only faith in Jesus would provide freedom from the law’s condemnation and give the hope of new life to those who had realized that they could not keep its holy standards.
Psalm 25:11
11 For your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
Before the gospel is good news for us, we have to realize the bad news that we are sinners who deserve nothing but God’s judgment. Don’t be reluctant to admit your sin to God and your constant need for his mercy. It will prepare you to see the glory of his grace.