Outline

“Jesus on Trial”
(Mark 14:53-72)

Intro/Set-Up
· Review from Mark 14:43-52

I. The Kangaroo Court (vv. 53-59)
· “The Cart Before the Horse”
· Illegal, Illegitimate, and ill advised

II. Urged to Accuse Himself (vv. 60-64)
· This isn’t going anywhere
· Yeah, That’s Not Allowed…
· The Truth Has Spoken

III. The Romans 3 Syndicate (v. 65)
· The Depravity of Man
· A Disdain for Deity

IV. O How the Mighty Have Fallen (vv. 66-72)
· Opportunity Gives way to Failure
· Jesus in Control
· Not so fast…

V. Conclusion
· All Eyes on Jesus

Quotes:

“Jesus is in control. The only reason they are able to arrest Him is because He allows it” –Gino Geraci

“Mark is moving us to the understanding of the fact that Christ’s death is necessary, it is voluntary, it is propitiatory, and it is substitutionary.”
–Alistair Begg

“The Jewish trial was opened by Annas, the former high priest (John 18:13–24). It then moved to the full council to hear witnesses (Mark 14:53–65), and then to an early morning session for the final vote of condemnation (Mark 15:1). Jesus was then sent to Pilate (Mark 15:1–5; John 18:28–38), who sent Him to Herod (Luke 23:6–12), who returned Him to Pilate (Mark 15:6–15; John 18:39–19:6). Pilate yielded to the cry of the mob and delivered Jesus to be crucified. ”–Warren Wiersbe

“1. It was forbidden to meet at night or during the Jewish feasts. 2. It was forbidden to bribe witnesses to commit perjury. 3. It was forbidden to render a capital judgment or judgment of death until at least one night had passed. 4. It was forbidden to render a judgment in an assembly other than the Hall of Hewn Stone, in the Temple Area; otherwise the Judgment was not binding.” –Gino Geraci

“It was a tacit confession that Christ had been proved innocent up till then. The high priest would not have needed to draw something out of the accused one if there had been sufficient material against him elsewhere. The trial had been a dead failure up to that point, and he knew it, and was red with rage. Now he attempts to bully the prisoner that he may extract some declaration from him which may save all further trouble of witnesses, and end the matter.” –Charles Spurgeon

“Jesus did affirm that He is the Son of God. He applied to Himself Psalm 110:1 and Daniel 7:13, both of which are messianic passages. In these two quotations, Jesus predicted His resurrection and ascension and His return in glory. This would mean salvation to those who trust Him, but for Caiaphas it would mean condemnation. ” –Warren Wiersbe

“The chief priests and elders were by the law entrusted with the prosecuting and punishing of false witnesses (Deu. 19:16, 17); yet those were now ringleaders in a crime that tends to overthrow of all justice. It is time to cry, Help, Lord, when the physicians of a land are its troublers, and those that should be the conservators of peace and equity, are the corrupters of both.” –Matthew Henry

“Be astonished, O heavens, and be horribly afraid. His face is the light of the universe, His person is the glory of heaven, and they ‘began to spit on Him.’ Alas, my God, that man should be so base!” –Charles Spurgeon

“The rail diverges but a little where the switches are tuned, but before long the branch line is miles away from the main track. If we backslide a little, we are on our way to utter apostasy. The mother of mischief is small as a gnat’s egg; hatch it and we will see an evil bird larger than an ostrich.” –Charles Spurgeon