During our study of Mark's gospel, we haven't often thought of the original readers. They are, after all, fairly easy to forget. They aren't mentioned in the narrative -- the story is about Jesus. When we read the epistles of the New Testament, it is hard to forget the original recipients. Paul wrote Romans for Romans, Titus to Titus, and Philemon to Philemon. And it becomes clear within five minutes of reading the Old Testament prophets that there is an original context and audience. Hosea wrote during a time of apostasy, Malachi wrote to a people in need of revival, and Isaiah wrote to multiple peoples and historical situations. Understanding the background of these writing helps us get their meaning for our lives today.

But the gospels, filled with the mesmerizing life and teachings of Christ, might not immediately thrust their original audience upon us; but they certainly have them. Matthew had a Jewish audience in mind. Luke wrote to general humanity steeped in Greek thought. John helped correct false thinking about Jesus. And Mark seems to have a Roman reader in mind. These were persecuted believers who needed encouragement and truth from the life of Jesus.

And today's passage would have served that persecuted and laboring church well. Reading of the Jewish authorities' rejection of Jesus, Peter's denial of Jesus, and Pilate's decision about Jesus would have encouraged and focused Mark's audience. So, as we move through the passage today, I will attempt to highlight three lessons they would've -- and we should -- glean from these episodes.

1. God Must Open Eyes (Mark 14:53-65)

Tried By The Jewish Authorities (14:53-65)

53 And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. 54 And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire. 55 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. 56 For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. 57 And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’ ” 59 Yet even about this their testimony did not agree. 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 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.” 63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? 64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. 65 And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows.

The Jewish Trials

In our last study, Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. All his disciples fled from him (50). Even Mark might've been there -- and even Mark fled (51-52). Jesus was left with only his captors, and here we learn they took him directly, in the dead of night, to the high priest.

By patching together all the gospel accounts, it's clear their first move was to take Jesus to a retired high priest named Annas for a private interview before taking him to the sitting high priest's house, a man named Caiaphas. Caiaphas interviewed Jesus alone before instituting a large trial with all the chief priest and the elders and the scribes (53). This group was the Sanhedrin, a 71-man council that governed Israel under Rome's supervision. So when they gathered that night, it was as the judicial body over Israel. Everything about the trial -- its location, timing, and speed -- was against their laws. But they had already decided Jesus should die, so now they would put him on trial in an attempt to stick the death penalty on him.

Once the trial began, their quest for testimony against Jesus proved difficult (55). There were lots of ex-lepers, ex-sick, ex-disabled, ex-outcast, and even ex-dead who would have loved to testify about Jesus that night. Instead, these men looked for false witnesses, but even they couldn't agree (57-59).

One line of testimony caught Mark's attention: "Some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, 'We heard him say, "I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands"'" (58). The temple was a big deal to that group. It symbolized the essence of the hope of Judaism, but it also served as the center of the Sanhedrin's power. Without a temple, they'd have no real authority. Jesus never said he'd destroy the temple. He had privately prophesied that the temple would be destroyed (Mark 13:1-3). And he'd predicted that his bodily temple would be destroyed and raised three days later. But he'd never said he would personally destroy Jerusalem's temple. But even this charge gained no traction as their testimony did not agree (59).

An Astounding Confession

Finally, when the high priest could stand it no longer, he asked Jesus to testify himself. At first, Jesus was silent and made no answer (61). But then the high priest asked the right question: "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" (61). Are you the Messiah, the Deliver for whom we've all waited? Are you God's Son? Do you think you're the Divine Son of God, God among us?

Up to this point in Mark's gospel, Jesus has adopted a policy of silence on such matters. He forced demons to be silent because they knew him (1:25, 34). He sternly charged a leper he'd healed to keep it quiet (1:43). He shrouded his teaching with parables (4:10-12). He sent a demoniac he'd delivered away from Israel, allowing only distant lands to know what Christ had done (5:20). He told Jairus not to tell anyone he'd raised his twelve-year-old daughter back to life (5:43). And even after his disciples confessed him as the Christ, he told them to tell no one about him (8:30).

But now, with the question of the high priest lingering in the air, Jesus unleashed the truth of his identity: "I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven" (62). All along, Mark has portrayed Jesus as the Son of God (1:1). Now, when asked if he is God's Son, Jesus says, "I am" (62). More than that, he is the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, applying words from Psalm 110 and Daniel 7 to himself. These passages referred to a figure who would come in the clouds of God's glory to judge the earth.

Jesus, the Ultimate Judge of all flesh, is being judged by these religious leaders. He should be judging them. And he assures them, one day he will.

Their Response

This was all too much for these religious leaders. They thought they heard blasphemy -- that's why the high priest tore his garments (63). Quickly, they condemned Jesus as deserving death (64). And these otherwise dignified religious men began to spit on Jesus before covering his face, striking him, and mockingly telling him to prophesy about who hit him (65).

There is much in this passage, but I want to highlight what Mark's original readers might've noticed. For them, the gospel was still a raw and new message. Human civilization would never be the same, but their European roots had not yet been influenced by Jesus. And, as they traveled from place to place, to Jew and Gentile alike, they rejoiced knowing they had the singular message that can cure mankind of all its ills.

And they might've been shocked to find resistance, sometimes of the vehement variety found in this passage. Though the Jews had the Old Testament promises about Jesus, though they knew a Son of David would come and deliver them, they were hardened against his message. They would not believe.

1. God Must Open Eyes

The Powers Of That Day Were Blinded

This would've helped those early readers know that God must open people's eyes. The leaders in that room on that night were blinded. A veil was over their hearts. Like Pharaoh, whose heart was so hard he thrust himself into the suicidal waters of the Red Sea, this religious court would not budge from their positions. They were blind, hardened against Christ.

And the New Testament confirms this blindness. Paul spoke of the god of this world and how he has blinded the minds of unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4). He also said every believer used to follow the course of this world, the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2). And John said the whole world lies in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19).

As I'm prone to mention, this does not mean good things cannot come from broken humanity. We should expect glorious things like third-wave coffee, black licorice, and Pixar to bubble up from people created in God's image. But, when it comes to submission to Christ's gospel, God must open our eyes.

And he can. Just as he opened the eyes of Paul when he was a persecutor of the church, he can open eyes today. The religious leaders back then we're living a charade -- they acted as if they were concerned with finding the truth, but all they wanted was to kill Jesus. They didn't really want to know the truth. But God was able to open their eyes -- and some of them did eventually turn, repent, and submit to Christ.

But we must be a praying people. It's not all we must do in reaching out to those without Jesus. We must be reasonable. We must be loving. We must give good explanations for the hope within us. We must be exemplary and not spoil our witness. But none of it will be effective without God's help, so we must pray.

We must gather together and ask God to open eyes. Many of you are parents. Gather with your spouse or other believers and intercede for your children. Ask God, together, that God would take your child's heart by storm, open their eyes, and bring them into his kingdom.

And this is how we can pray for anyone we know outside of Christ. Write down their names. Bring them before God. Ask for opportunities -- and take them. And know that it does not depend on you but on God. He must open their eyes.

2. God Can Help Us Be Faithful (Mark 14:66-72)

Denied By Peter (Mark 14:66-72)

66 And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, 67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway, and the rooster crowed. 69 And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” 70 But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” 71 But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” 72 And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Peter's Three Denials

This second movement takes us back to Peter. We interacted with him in last week's text. Jesus had shown Peter a prophecy from Zechariah that indicated Peter would scatter from him that very night (14:27). Peter didn't like it and told Jesus he would die before denying him. But Jesus told him he'd deny Him three times before the rooster crowed twice (14:30). And this episode shows us the fulfillment of that prediction.

First, Peter denied he knew Jesus when a servant girl accused him of being on Jesus' team (66-68). Second, Peter again denied that he knew Jesus when that same girl told bystanders that Peter was one of the disciples (69-70). Third, when those bystanders said Peter had to have been a Jesus follower because he was clearly Galilean, Peter put a curse on himself if he was a follower of Jesus. He swore he did not know him: "I do not know this man of whom you speak" (70-71).

Peter's Sorrow

And when the rooster crowed a second time Peter remembered what Jesus had said (72). Another gospel tells us Jesus looked out at Peter in the courtyard (Luke 22:61). Peter couldn't take it. He broke down and wept.

Obstacle: Security

On that night, Peter did something shameful, something he never thought himself capable of doing. But, like most of us, he came face to face with his own failure and limitations that night.

But what made Peter act this way? There were many factors and temptations, but at its core, Peter's sin was connected to the worship of security. On that night, with danger looming, it was unsafe for him to confess his allegiance to Jesus, so he denied knowing him.

This is the same temptation we experience today. We know standing with Jesus will get us the ire of many. And sometimes, we fear the lack of security and safety that might come with being on Team Jesus. Some have even gone so far as to rewrite or downplay the Bible Jesus endorsed in an attempt to become more acceptable to the onlooking crowd.

But the original readers would have seen in Peter a story of redemption. He was, after all, the source material for Mark's gospel, and he became a force in the early church. He boldly preached to crowds, wrote Holy Scripture, and died a martyr's death. And many in the church Mark wrote for were struggling through persecution and pressured to deny Christ. Because of this, the early church would have read in Mark's account an encouragement that God can help us be faithful. And we can learn the same. God can help us live faithfully to Christ.

2. God Can Help Us Be Faithful

Three Sets Of Three

Now, this fiasco in Peter's life came in three sets of three. First, three times in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter fell asleep when he should have been praying. Then Peter denied Jesus three times. And finally, after the resurrection, on a beach of Galilee, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. Peter told him he did, and each time Jesus told Peter to take care of God's flock (John 21:15-19). It was a threefold way for Jesus to restore Peter, the man who had denied him three times.

Christ Makes A Way Of Return If We Fail

This is the way of Christ. He makes a way for his fallen and broken people to return to him. He worked hard to restore Peter. He even directed the angel at the empty tomb to tell the women to tell Peter to meet him in Galilee (Mark 16:7). He singled Peter out for restoration.

An episode in King David's life illustrates the truth that Jesus restores his fallen ones. David, at one point, was forced to banish one of his sons from Israel. Absalom had defended his sister's honor against one of their half-brothers and afterward fled to a distant country. But, after a while, David longed to bring him back. Still, the principle of the thing kept him from reaching out to his ostracized son.

Joab, David's general, saw it all. He knew David's heart. So he hired an older woman to pretend to need David's judgment. She presented a family catastrophe, one where her son was banished. Would David help her bring him home? In her argument, she delivered a punchline that convinced David's heart:

2 Samuel 14:14 (ESV) — 14 ...God will not take away life, and he devises means so that the banished one will not remain an outcast.

This is true of our Lord. He devises means so that the banished one will not remain an outcast. He did this for Peter. He wants to do this for every one of his children who fails him.

Who Peter Became

And, don't forget, a major part of Peter's restoration was the gift of the Holy Spirit. He became a changed man under the Spirit's guidance. Now humble but with the power of God in his body, Peter was able to stand for Jesus for the rest of his life. He did not deny Jesus all his days.

Perhaps Peter's testimony resonates with you today. Is it restoration you need? Jesus wants to bring you back. Repent. Confess. Mourn. And let him draw you home. Is it power you need? Stop trying to get the job done without the Spirit's help. Our energy alone cannot produce the righteousness of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Matthew 12:20 (ESV) — 20 ...a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench...

This is Jesus. He does not want to break or snuff out the weak believer who is struggling along. Instead, he wants to restore you and empower you. Turn to him, daily, for his new grace and mercy (Lamentations 3:22-23). God can help you be faithful.

3. God's Plans Will Succeed (Mark 15:1-15)

Tried By The Roman Authorities (Mark 15:1-15)

1 And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. 2 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” 3 And the chief priests accused him of many things. 4 And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” 5 But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed. 6 Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. 7 And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. 8 And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. 9 And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. 12 And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” 13 And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” 14 And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

In our final movement, the religious leaders had to pawn Jesus off on Pilate. Rome did not allow the Jews to execute people, so the Sanhedrin needed to bring a charge against Jesus to Pilate. So, early on Friday morning, they delivered Jesus over to this Roman prefect.

Now, Pilate would not have interfered with their religious debates. Nor would he have cared. So they knew they couldn't tell him they thought he should die for claiming to be the Messiah Son of God. So they told Pilate Jesus was making political noise by claiming to be the "the King of the Jews" (2).

When he asked Jesus about this charge, Jesus said, "You have said so" (2). Mark is getting straight to the point. John elaborates, telling us Jesus told Pilate that his kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36).

It was then that the religious leaders brought more charges (3). But Jesus was silent (3-5, Isaiah 53:7). And Pilate was amazed.

And it's clear Pilate thought Jesus should go free. The other gospels present him (and even his wife) as tortured about the whole thing (Matthew 27:19). So he tried to concoct a way of escape for Jesus by means of tradition. Each year, he was accustomed to pleasing the local population by releasing a political prisoner of their choosing. It was tough living under Rome's thumb, and this was a peace offering meant to garner favor for Rome's presence.

Pilate thought he could offer them Jesus. But the crowd, stirred up by the religious leaders, cried out for a man named Barabbas (7, 11). He was an insurrectionist who fought against Rome -- a murderer and a robber (John 18:40). Pilate, sensing Jesus' innocence, thought the crowd would side with him. But they wouldn't side with Pilate's choice, instead opting for the choice of the religious leaders. In one sense, they chose the religious leaders over Pilate when they chose Barabbas over Jesus.

Barabbas lived the gospel -- the innocent died in place of the guilty.

So Pilate asked them what he should do with Jesus. They cried out all the more: "Crucify him! (13, 14). And, in one of the saddest statements in history, Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, delivered Jesus to be crucified (15). But his crucifixion would only happen after he was scourged, a brutal flogging which many people didn't survive.

Jesus' Predictions

All this happened just as Jesus had predicted. This is what the original readers might've fixated on. Jesus said a friend would betray him, and a friend betrayed him. Jesus said the disciples would desert him, and the disciples deserted him. Jesus said he'd be delivered into the hands of men, and he was delivered into the hands of men. Jesus said he'd be condemned by the chief priests, scribes, and elders, and he was. He said Peter would deny him three times, and he did. He said the Gentiles would put him to death, and they did. All Jesus said would happen, happened.

3. God's Plans Will Succeed

God's plans will succeed. This is the final thing I want to say about this text. The early church, suffocating under the hand of persecution and hardship, living in fear of their own Pontius Pilate, would have loved seeing God's plans unfold. They must. He cannot be stopped. God's plans will succeed.

Even though troubling times might come, God is in control. I think the early church read these accounts and expected suffering and hostility would come their way. How can we, adherents and followers of Christ, expect to avoid it? Our King suffered. So will we.

2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV) — 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

But through it all, Jesus remained quiet and confident. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth (Isaiah 53:7). He did not buckle. He did not panic. And though the religious leaders lost their minds and Pilate lost control, Jesus lost neither.

As the religious leaders lost their composure, Jesus remained calm. As they lashed out at him, he refrained from revenge. As they condemned him, he died for them.

And though Pilate lost control of the situation, Jesus was in control of it. Though Pilate sought a way out of it all, Jesus rushed toward it all. And though Pilate made his decision because he feared the crowd, Jesus feared no man and would die for the crowd.

The religious leaders and Pilate struggled and panicked and accused, all in an attempt to keep their power. Ultimately, they lost everything. The temple and the Sanhedrin's authority were destroyed. The Roman Empire is a memory. But Jesus laid down his authority without struggle or panic or accusation. And, in the process, he became the all-powerful one who instituted a new humanity. All who believe in him who died and rose again will live forever with him because God's plans will succeed.