Key Thought

Basically, Jesus' opponents were trying to find a liar or two that they could "rent" for the duration of Jesus' trial. The behavior reminds us once again of two terrible realities. First, religious people can do the most despicable things when they are more concerned with self-preservation than they are about the truth of God. Second, Jesus is about to undergo a gruesome, horribly unfair ordeal. The first should always make us pause and ask for God's guidance and intervention. We should never want our understanding of truth to interfere with his will and his people. The second should drive us to our knees in humility, knowing all that the Lord Jesus has unfairly endured because of his love for us.

Today's Prayer

Today's Verses in Context

The people who arrested Jesus led him to the house of the high priest. All the leading priests, the older Jewish leaders, and the teachers of the law were gathered there. Peter followed Jesus, but he did not come near Jesus. Peter followed Jesus to the yard of the high priest's house. Peter went into the yard. Peter was sitting there with the guards. He was warming himself by their fire. The leading priests and all the Jewish council tried to find something that Jesus had done wrong so they could kill him. But the council could find no proof that would allow them to kill Jesus. Many people came and told false things against Jesus. But the people all said different things--none of them agreed. Then some people stood and said something false against Jesus. They said, "We heard this man (Jesus) say, 'I will destroy this temple that men made. And three days later, I will build another temple--a temple not made by men.'" But also the things these people said did not agree. Then the high priest stood before all the people and said to Jesus, "These people said things against you. Do you have something to say about these charges against you? Are these people telling the truth?" But Jesus said nothing. He did not answer. The high priest asked Jesus another question: "Are you the Christ, the Son of the blessed {God}?" Jesus answered, "Yes, I am the Son of God. And in the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right side of the Great One (God). And you will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven." When the high priest heard this, he was very angry. He tore his clothes and said, "We don't need any more witnesses! You all heard him say these things against God. What do you think?" All the people said that Jesus was wrong. They said he was guilty and must be killed. Some of the people there spit at Jesus. They covered Jesus' eyes and hit him with their fists. They said, "Be a prophet and tell us who hit you!" Then the guards led Jesus away and beat him.

— Mark 14:53-65 (ERV)

Comments on "Liars for Rent":

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