“Journey to the Cross: Condemned”

Scripture: Mark 14: 43-65

The Passover Seder has been celebrated, the feet have been washed, Judas has left to begin the fulfillment of prophesy(Isaiah 53:7-12), prayers have been lifted, and Jesus is prepared for what must come next. The journey has been a long and tiring one, but the most difficult is rapidly approaching.
The hard part isn’t that lies will be told about him, or the false judgment against him, or even the excruciating pain and death that will soon be his. It will be the desertion by his closest friends that will cause the greatest pain. It will be his betrayal into evil hands, by one who knew him best, that will pierce his heart. It will be the denial by those who had followed him faithfully for 3 years that will bring the most torment to his soul. It will be their condemnation that will break his heart, not the judgment of the world.

Read Mark 14:43-52

Judas was one of the “inner twelve” – those who were privy to the truth behind Lord’s teaching. He had been given great trust as the group’s treasurer; he had been given the third seat – the seat of honor – at the Passover meal; he had even betrayed his Lord with the kiss of friendship. He was, without question, a friend of Jesus’, but his actions would be closer to those of a conspirator. Had he even been listening to Jesus’ teaching? Did he know the Lord at all?

And with that, Jesus surrenders to captivity by the world. And why not? Didn’t he come specifically for them? Wasn’t this day and this event God’s intention from before time began? The guards treat him as though he were a dangerous criminal, but he reminds the authorities that he has never avoided them in the past, and that he has no desire to avoid them now. “Why didn’t you arrest me yesterday, or the day before that? I’ve always been around you. Why now? Why like this?” And suddenly, Jesus, the Lord God Almighty, is left alone with his accusers.

Read Mark 14:53-61a

Peter had, somehow, found the courage to follow this band at a distance, and in John’s gospel, we read that John was with him and even went inside to listen to the proceedings. (John 18:15-16) But Peter’s courage wouldn’t last, and he, too, would soon condemn Jesus to the court’s pleasure so that his flesh might remain intact.
And over and over, one witness after another, they came to testify to the heresy that Jesus had committed. But even though they had rehearsed their stories, and coordinated the words that would be spoken, none of it was in agreement. It was all lies, and the court kept after the Lord to explain his actions. But how can anyone defend themselves against false claims? We might try by saying that we had never uttered those words, or that our statements had been taken out of context, but Jesus remained silent.

Why wouldn’t he at least attempt to defend himself? Why wouldn’t he say that the claims were false? The truth is that he knew what was in the minds of these men – that they already knew that the claims against him were lies, they knew that, regardless of what Jesus might say in response, his words would be ignored, they knew that the outcome of this mock trial was a foregone conclusion, and Jesus also knew that they had heard his teaching and had already decided to disregard it. What good could more words do at this point in time?

Read Mark 14:61b-65

The only question that he would respond to was “Are you the Christ?”, and the answer was “I am, and one day you will have to accept that.” But this was not that day, so he said nothing more.

And he was condemned to death for heresy. But this was part of God’s plan, as much as it was the world’s! But the court’s judgment came out of hatred and ignorance – while God’s was out of love and forgiveness.

So, was this all due to the “wise” judgment of the court? Was it due to the judgment that came from human sin? Was it due to God’s wisdom? Something had to be done, and it had to be effective.
Israel had tried animal sacrifice for centuries, and it never satisfied – it had to be offered over and over, for each and every specific sin, for each and every time violations of God’s law was committed. Animal sacrifice was never going to work. An animal’s death, at best, provided food – not forgiveness.
Some might even ask why not require the person who had committed the sin to be the sacrifice. After all, the sin was their responsibility – why not expect them to satisfy the penalty? But a human death on account of human failure can’t bring forgiveness, either – it can only be seen as penalty for our collapse in faith, not as restitution to God’s grace.
One thing that both Jesus and the Pharisees agreed upon, though, was that only God can forgive sin. Our failure to follow God’s teaching can only be overturned by God Himself – by a merciful act of the Divine Judge. And so, God must be the blood sacrifice that overturns the verdict against human sin – only the blood of Jesus Christ can wash our sin slate clean.

Condemned – by the very created people he came to save. Hardly seems right, doesn’t it? But it was by Jesus’ own choice to give his all, that we might receive all through him. His is a God-given gift of forgiveness and life that must now be claimed by all who would live in him.

“I am the Way, and the Truth and the Life.” (John 14:6-7) Have you accepted the gift of Eternal Life that Jesus is for you?