Jesus Answering Nothing - Mark 14:60

Mark wrote how those who captured Jesus led Him, “away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes. And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire. And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none. For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together. And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. But neither so did their witness agree together”, and in chapter fourteen and verse sixty of his book, Mark shared how the high priest asked Jesus, “answer you nothing?”, where we read:

And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying,

Answer you nothing? what is it which these witness against you?

The verse reads, “And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, ...”. Mark began with the words, “and the high priest” which means “and the chief, primary and head priest” “stood up in the midst” or “was standing in the middle of the religious leaders and Jesus” “and asked Jesus” or “and questioned, inquired of and accosted with a request and demand” “saying” which means “uttering, declaring, proclaiming and questioning Jesus with” the following words. Mark shared how the “chief priest” made a “stand” before Jesus, all the false witnesses and the other religious leaders as he began to “question” Jesus with the following words.

The verse goes on to say, “...Answer you nothing? what is it which these witness against you?” Mark continued with the words, “Answer you nothing” which means “are you, Jesus, not responding with a single word or defense”? “what is it which these” or “what are the things these witnesses” “witness against you” which means “testify and attest against you Jesus”? Mark shared how Jesus remained quiet while the “high priest” asked Him what He had to say about the people who were “testifying” in opposition to Him.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus did not defend Himself against these “false accusations”. Rather than speak for Himself, Jesus allowed these people to “testify” against Him to such a degree that His lack of speaking roused the “high priest” to ask Him why? Jesus submitted Himself freely to this “trial” because His purpose was to suffer and die for the “sins” of mankind. Those who believe and trust in Him will be “saved” and live forever with God. Those who do not yield to Him will align themselves with those who brought “false testimonies” against Jesus.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus, “held his peace, and answered nothing”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".