Read Mark 14:53-65
Maybe I’m Just As Guilty.
After Jesus was arrested, they took him before the high priest, and all the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and elders came together. Peter followed Jesus from a distance right into the courtyard of the high priest. He sat with the guards warming himself at the fire. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin (Jewish Council) were looking for evidence against Jesus so they could put him to death. But they couldn’t find any. Many testified falsely against Jesus but their testimonies didn’t agree with one another.
Finally the high priest asked Jesus, “Are you the Messiah, the son of the Blessed one?” Jesus answered, “I am.”
All of a sudden, the Jewish leaders went berserk!!!!!!!! The high priest tour his clothes in anger and accused Jesus of blasphemy. The religious leaders and the Jewish Council condemned Jesus as worthy of death. They began to spit at him, blindfolded him and struck him with their fists and said prophesy who hit you. The guards took Jesus and beat him.
There was so much hate towards Jesus, for no justified reason, from the Jewish leaders. Their jealousy drove them to do all kinds of evil and tell all kinds of lies so they could kill an innocent man. They told all kinds of lies but nothing worked until Jesus told the truth that he was the Messiah, the Son of God. It was then that they accused him of blasphemy and worthy of being put to death. It was then that they spat on him, blindfolded him, punched him, mocked him, and beat him.
I would like to buy that if I was there I would have stood up for Jesus. I can’t imagine I would ever treat Jesus like they did. But wait a minute, maybe I’m just as guilty.
The religious leaders and Jewish Council denied Jesus and mistreated him. When I confess Jesus as the Son Of God, it’s a testimony of who Jesus is. But if I knowingly sin against God with my lustful thoughts or hateful thoughts, could it be said then, that is like a slap in Jesus’s face. Doesn’t God demand from us holiness? Knowing this and knowing I outright let myself sin against him, isn’t that like a slap in Jesus’s face? Think about that! Maybe I’m just as guilty? Father forgive me when I sin and help me be holy in your sight with my words, my actions, and even my thoughts. Amen!
