November 3, 2009—Oops: The High Priest Commits an Error in Judgment
Scripture: Job 25, Mark 13, 14
Again the high priest 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.” And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death.
Mark 14:61-64
Observation
The high priest went into the kangaroo court in Mark 14 with the preconceived idea that Jesus was something other than who he was, which was honestly becoming obvious the more his ministry progressed. Really, the high priest was just fishing for any excuse to condemn Jesus. Finally he asked Jesus straight out if he was the Christ, the son of the Blessed, to which Jesus replied that he was. As Jaco Pastorius once observed, “It ain’t bragging if you can back it up.”
Application
Jesus is still who he says he is—the Christ and the son of the Blessed One. Many today marginalize Jesus, and as his follower I have to decide how I’ll respond to those who do. Peter buckled, but later went on to be a dynamic witness to the risen Christ. Day by day I have the choice of how I will represent Jesus to the world, especially to those who scoff.
Prayer
Father, please fill me with your Holy Spirit today, and grant that I might be a powerful witness to the reality of the risen Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.
