False Testimony or Fulfilled Prophesy: Mark 14:55-59
“55) Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any. 56) For many were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimony was not consistent. 57) Some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, saying, 58) “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’ ” 59) Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent.” Mark 14:55-59
The false trial against Jesus reached a deadlock. According to Deuteronomy 17:6-7 and 19:15, a capital charge had to be confirmed by the exact testimony of two or three witnesses. This was to prevent a malicious trail. The Law was doing its righteous job.
Such was now the challenge of the midnight gathering of the Sanhedrin. Because they were relying on false witnesses, they could not get consistent and collaborating testimony against Jesus. The trail was quickly braking down.
On a prophetic note, Psalm 27:12 says; “Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries, For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence.” What an exact description of the midnight trial against Jesus.
Finally, they settled on a claim that Jesus promised to destroy the temple made with hands, and rebuild another made without hands in three days. (Vs 58) The literal nature of the claim was ridiculous. How could one man with his bare hands tear down the temple?
They were referring back to the verbal exchange recorded in John 2:18-22 between Jesus and the Jews. Jesus had just driven the money changers and merchants from the temple during His first Passover visit in Jerusalem after starting His public ministry.
When they asked Him for a sign, He had replied; “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” John takes pains to explain that Jesus was referring to the temple of His body.
As the fog clears away from the story in Mark 14:58, the realization settles on the reader that the Sanhedrin was about to help fulfill the promise made by Jesus of a sign. He had been speaking of His death, burial and resurrection. The false witnesses helped focus the proceedings on the very sign Jesus promised to fulfill.
And so it happened. That very night Jesus was condemned and handed over for crucifixion. The temple of His body was destroyed on the cross. In the words of John the Baptist, He was the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. (John 1:29)
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“55) Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any. 56) For many were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimony was not consistent. 57) Some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, saying, 58) “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’ ” 59) Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent.” Mark 14:55-59
The false trial against Jesus reached a deadlock. According to Deuteronomy 17:6-7 and 19:15, a capital charge had to be confirmed by the exact testimony of two or three witnesses. This was to prevent a malicious trail. The Law was doing its righteous job.
Such was now the challenge of the midnight gathering of the Sanhedrin. Because they were relying on false witnesses, they could not get consistent and collaborating testimony against Jesus. The trail was quickly braking down.
On a prophetic note, Psalm 27:12 says; “Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries, For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence.” What an exact description of the midnight trial against Jesus.
Finally, they settled on a claim that Jesus promised to destroy the temple made with hands, and rebuild another made without hands in three days. (Vs 58) The literal nature of the claim was ridiculous. How could one man with his bare hands tear down the temple?
They were referring back to the verbal exchange recorded in John 2:18-22 between Jesus and the Jews. Jesus had just driven the money changers and merchants from the temple during His first Passover visit in Jerusalem after starting His public ministry.
When they asked Him for a sign, He had replied; “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” John takes pains to explain that Jesus was referring to the temple of His body.
As the fog clears away from the story in Mark 14:58, the realization settles on the reader that the Sanhedrin was about to help fulfill the promise made by Jesus of a sign. He had been speaking of His death, burial and resurrection. The false witnesses helped focus the proceedings on the very sign Jesus promised to fulfill.
And so it happened. That very night Jesus was condemned and handed over for crucifixion. The temple of His body was destroyed on the cross. In the words of John the Baptist, He was the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. (John 1:29)
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
