Mark 14:55-64

Mark 14:55-64  The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any.  Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.  Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him:  “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.’”  Yet even then their testimony did not agree.  Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer?  What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?”  But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.  Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”  “I am,” said Jesus.  “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”  The high priest tore his clothes.  “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked.  “You have heard the blasphemy.  What do you think?”  They all condemned him as worthy of death.

All the truth in the Bible, all the truth of knowledge or wisdom rests in these words: “I am."  In John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me."  (John 14:6)  All of the meaning of life in this sinful world is summed up in those words.  As a Christian, to know Jesus is your reason for existence.  All other knowledge, all other wisdom is enveloped in knowing Jesus as the Christ.  Any other knowledge, any other wisdom that leads anywhere else but to that knowledge, is a lie and will lead you to destruction and eternal damnation, for Christ is the Son of the Blessed One, and He is to be your Lord.  Jesus affirms this truth to the high priest by saying, "You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”  The mob thought that these words made Jesus worthy of death, but actually these words are life to those who believe in Jesus as the Son of God, the Eternal One, the Lord on High.  Therefore, they rest in Jesus.  Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me.  Because I live, you also will live.  On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.  (John 14:19-20)  

We who believe in Jesus Christ will live forever with him.  The Jewish elite wanted to discredit Jesus as Lord and Savior.  The priests brought in people who gave false testimony against him.  But their testimonies did not agree.  The whole thing was a sham.  But God allowed it, for Jesus was being led to the cross as an innocent lamb.  In the natural, there was no reason for his death.  He was innocent of any wrongdoing, but still He had to die for God's purpose: to redeem mankind from the grip of sin and death.  The death of the I AM (Jesus) brought sin and death to its knees.  No longer would men be unworthy before the throne of God, for they would now have a mediator between them and God.  They would now have the I AM pleading their case for eternal life, and that case of eternal life would all be wrapped up in the blood of Jesus, which washes away our sins and makes us holy before ALMIGHTY GOD.  Any other Christ, any other idea of Christ is a false one.  Any other belief in Jesus is a false one.  The crowd wanted to make Jesus into just a natural man with some strange ideas, even blasphemous ideas.  But Jesus was not just any other man; He was the Christ, the Holy One, the returning Messiah, the Lamb of God.  Every knee will bow before him someday.  All the people who were in this mob will bow before him someday.  Everyone who is not washed in the blood of Lamb through faith in him will be judged harshly someday, for Jesus Christ is the beginning and the end, the TRUTH and LIFE.  HE IS THE WAY, the only way to eternal life.  Praise God for Jesus--the I AM.