When to Speak: Mark 14:60-65
God is in control. This is such an easy concept to forget, especially when the world sets on injustice and we seem powerless to prevent it or change the course of the world. We see in the perspective of hours, days, weeks, and possibly months or rarely years. God sees with the perspective of eons.
Jesus’ behavior before the Sanhedrin shouldn’t surprise me, but it always does. He doesn’t say anything against the trumped up charges the witnesses bring against Him. It’s possible that their testimony was in such bad disagreement Jesus didn’t feel the need to defend Himself, but it’s also possible there is something else at play. Still, it is amazing Jesus stays silent rather than refuting the charges. Most of us would be verbally active, discounting the false witness like our life depended on it.
That’s the thing. Jesus’ life doesn’t depend on it. I mean this in two ways. It is God’s plan for Jesus to die. He needs to go to the cross. If He is going to die, what difference does it make whether he puts up a fight or not? Even if the Sanhedrin find witnesses willing to lie, as long as Jesus dies, God’s plan is fulfilled. The Sanhedrin can break its own rules and listen to contradictory testimony because in the end, God’s plan wins out.
There is another way to hear the claim that Jesus’ life doesn’t depend on it. His life literally doesn’t depend on it. Jesus’ body will be slain, but that only means He gets the opportunity to – as Peter calls it in 1 Peter 3:18-20 – proclaim God’s grace to the sinful who are already dead. Then, Jesus will rise from the dead and be present among the disciples. Then, He will ascend to Heaven. His life quite literally does not depend on this trial, because His life is not going to end.
Feel the challenge in this thought. How often do I let myself become bothered by injustice against me and lose sight of the fact that God has my life in His hands? I’m not saying we shouldn’t stand up for truth; I am saying that I shouldn’t let temporal injustice interfere with my enjoyment of God’s eternal peace.
Jesus does eventually speak up. He doesn’t defend Himself from false accusation and He certainly doesn’t get emotionally involved. But when the question of His identity arises, Jesus speaks the truth. He identifies Himself as the Son of God and promises they will see Him come in glory. Jesus doesn’t speak to save His life, but He is willing to speak to make sure they hear the truth.
Jesus’ words are enough to incite the religious elite. They mock Him, spit on Him, and strike Him. They’re willing to do whatever they want to Him because they are going to get their way. They think Jesus is powerless against them. Even still, God is in control.
