For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.
Mark 14:56 belongs to what took place before Annas and the court of Caiaphas the high priest. It was in the judgment hall where Caiaphas presided over the council, with Jesus standing as a captive before him under the eyes of the multitude amid wild excitement. While His life was at stake, Jesus stood calmly before that judgment hall.
He stood calm, serene, dignified and majestic, with a God-like presence from which a holy influence emanated. This was in contrast to the excited and malignant bearing of His judges, Annas and Caiaphas, and raised the question whether such a one should be sentenced as a common criminal. Though tried for His life at the foot of an earthly throne in coarse, homely garb, He is One who has reigned in the courts of heaven, crowned and in garments of brightness attended by holy angels.
Caiaphas was struck with admiration for Jesus and convicted that He was akin to God, then banished the thought. In sneering, haughty tones he demanded a mighty miracle, which Jesus ignored as though He heard not. Perceiving the influence turning in Jesus' favor, Caiaphas hastened the trial. He took his seat on the throne of judgment in gorgeous robe with glittering tiara and costly breastplate, with Jesus at its foot, judges and interested parties on either side and Roman soldiers ranged on the platform below the throne.
Many bore false witness against Jesus, but their accounts did not agree together. Their conflicting testimony failed to establish a consistent charge and provided no sound basis for condemning Him. In this their disagreement exposed the injustice of the trial. The charge that He had broken the Sabbath by rubbing grain in His hands and eating was unfounded, for His actions were in harmony with the Sabbath commandment. If His accusers could have proved that charge, they would not have needed to procure false testimony against Him.
The verse shows that self-seeking religious opposition produces contradictory false charges against Christ and His truth. It stands as an example that in most religious controversies self is striving for supremacy over matters that are not vital at all but are treated as vital only because men have given importance to them. Even Seventh-day Adventists are in danger of closing their eyes to truth as it is in Jesus when it contradicts what they have taken for granted as truth.
Mark 14:56 belongs to what took place before Annas and the court of Caiaphas the high priest. It was in the judgment hall where Caiaphas presided over the council, with Jesus standing as a captive before him under the eyes of the multitude amid wild excitement. While His life was at stake, Jesus stood calmly before that judgment hall.
He stood calm, serene, dignified and majestic, with a God-like presence from which a holy influence emanated. This was in contrast to the excited and malignant bearing of His judges, Annas and Caiaphas, and raised the question whether such a one should be sentenced as a common criminal. Though tried for His life at the foot of an earthly throne in coarse, homely garb, He is One who has reigned in the courts of heaven, crowned and in garments of brightness attended by holy angels.
Caiaphas was struck with admiration for Jesus and convicted that He was akin to God, then banished the thought. In sneering, haughty tones he demanded a mighty miracle, which Jesus ignored as though He heard not. Perceiving the influence turning in Jesus' favor, Caiaphas hastened the trial. He took his seat on the throne of judgment in gorgeous robe with glittering tiara and costly breastplate, with Jesus at its foot, judges and interested parties on either side and Roman soldiers ranged on the platform below the throne.
Many bore false witness against Jesus, but their accounts did not agree together. Their conflicting testimony failed to establish a consistent charge and provided no sound basis for condemning Him. In this their disagreement exposed the injustice of the trial. The charge that He had broken the Sabbath by rubbing grain in His hands and eating was unfounded, for His actions were in harmony with the Sabbath commandment. If His accusers could have proved that charge, they would not have needed to procure false testimony against Him.
The verse shows that self-seeking religious opposition produces contradictory false charges against Christ and His truth. It stands as an example that in most religious controversies self is striving for supremacy over matters that are not vital at all but are treated as vital only because men have given importance to them. Even Seventh-day Adventists are in danger of closing their eyes to truth as it is in Jesus when it contradicts what they have taken for granted as truth.