Mark 14:63-65 - The Humiliation of Christ

Mark 14:63-65
63 Tearing his clothes, the high priest *said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. 65 Some began to spit at Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps in the face.

Message: The Humiliation of Christ

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus has been arrested and it is Thursday night. He has been seized under the cover of darkness, after he had prayed. The disciples and people fled; even one man who started to get apprehended got away naked, but he still got away. But, then Peter and John followed Jesus to the Sanhedrin court. They first accused Jesus improperly and so Jesus didn't respond. But then they asked Him if he was the Christ, the Son of the Blessed (God). And this time Jesus answered and acknowledged and even spoke of His future.

Jesus has just remarked to this question - “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One? And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.” And the response Tearing his clothes, the high priest *said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” Blasphemy is speaking sacrilegiously of God. It is not showing reverence to God. The high priest felt like he had all the evidence he needed to condemn Jesus to death because he had admitted to being the Messiah, the Son of God.

Jesus had admitted in the previous verses that He had a special relationship with God. He admitted that He was the Son of God and then He also calls himself the Son of Man. Now the question that has been raised is blasphemy here referring just to Jesus having a special sort of relationship with God or it referring to him having more than just a special relationship but being God himself. Traditional Christianity would be the latter while many religions such as Muslims, Jehovah Witnesses and liberal Christians say the former.

What we do know for sure is he was utterly offended. We know this because of the tearing his clothes. This was probably a man of multiple tunics and tearing ones clothes was a sign of exceptional grief. But this wasn't simply a tearing of one's clothes, but it was a violent tear. The Greek word is rent and it implies violent dramatic action. The high priest is making a point. He is calling attention to Jesus' words. But I still wonder what his motivation was in doing this. He wasn't someone that wanted or felt like there was a need for any more evidence. He had all the evidence he needed and getting witnesses to testify against Jesus was more of a formality. So perhaps the tearing of His clothes was more to enunciate with clarity that nothing more is needed for Jesus has made the claim. Was Jesus just embodying an exceptional person or was he stating that He was equal with God and thereby God.

And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. It seems that the JW's for one focus not on Jesus admitted he was the son of God, but instead focus on Jesus saying that he had a special place of distinction at the right hand of God. Whatever this meant at the time, the people felt like he was worthy to be condemned to death. Would Jesus claiming that God has reserved for him a special place be enough for him to be crucified or was this more likely because he was proclaiming to be God.

Some began to spit at Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps. It is now about 3am. Jesus has not slept as the night before was his last night of sleep. What follows now is not just contempt but the greatest contempt that people would have on someone. To spit on someone was a sign of this sort of contempt. And then if that wasn't enough there was blindfolding and then beating him with their fists. And Mark and Luke record that they would say to Jesus to Prophesy.

In some ways this is puzzling because nowhere have we seen this type of rage of Jesus and yet it must have been present. There must have been many that equally hated Jesus as those who loved Him in a great way.

Summary - It is now late into the morning and because of Jesus saying that he is the Son of God and calling himself the Son of Man, the charge of blasphemy is given and Jesus is now being spit on, blindfolded and struck with fists.

Promise: Jesus is voluntarily taking this humiliation.

Prayer: Lord, you were humiliated for me. That is clear. Please continue to reveal yourself to me. You were hated in a way I have not seen recorded yet in the Scripture. I worship You.