Mark 14:53-65
Find a way to separate yourself from whatever’s going on around you so you can fully enter into today’s passage. if you haven’t read the introduction to Mark’s Gospel, read it here.
As you read Mark 14:53-65 try to put yourself in the scene as a neutral observer. Imagine what you might think or feel as conflicting charges are shouted out.
Accusations, conflicting accounts, misquotes and falsehoods. This is the nature of the “hearing” hastily convened to find evidence against Jesus. In the midst of the noise, Jesus is silent. But when he is asked a direct question about his identity, Jesus doesn’t hesitate to speak in spite of the ramifications. He knows who he is. In the midst of twisted truths and blatant falsehoods stands Truth himself.
The chaos of this scene is uncomfortably similar to the socio-political noise of our current day. In the midst of so much conflicting information, it can be difficult if not impossible to discern what is true. But Jesus has not changed. He is still Truth.
How are you staying centered on Jesus in the midst of the chaos swirling around you? What practices are you engaging in to keep your focus on the One who is Truth?
Read Mark 14:53-65 again zeroing in on the reactions of the high priest and the other religious leaders to Jesus’ answer to the question about his identity.
It seems inconceivable that the very people who were supposed to know the Scriptures better than anyone else could miss Truth even when he was right in front of them. It also seems absurd that these very people would resort to hatred and violence against Jesus. But when our opinions and earthly allegiances become overly important to us, we can become deaf to any input that does not validate what we have already decided. When challenged, even by truth, we can become vindictive, irrational and violent either in speech or action.
Is there anything you are holding tight to besides Jesus? An opinion, an ideology, or something else?
Take a moment to be silent and ask Jesus to point out anything that has become so important to you that you would be unable to hear him if he exposed you to a new perspective.
Jesus does not just tell us the truth, Jesus is Truth. Spend a moment meditating on this.
What is Jesus’ invitation to you today? If you sense that he is inviting you to take an action of some kind write it down and decide how you will move in that direction.
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