LANGUAGE:
The Agony of Friday
(Mark 14:53–65: Matt 26:57–68; John 18:12, 19–24)
I invite you to open your Bibles to the gospel of Mark, chapter 14. Vs 53-65. We’re coming down to the last hours of Jesus life on earth. Jesus now comes face to face with the key players seeking to kill Him. Indeed, As we come to vs 53-65, to the onlookers, Jesus appeared to be a helpless victim and whose ministry was finished.
Let’s pause for a moment in prayer: Gracious Father, help us by the Holy Spirit help us to get a fresh grip on history past, on our Savior’s commitment to break the power of Satan, the darkness of our own souls, and the great love that You have demonstrated visibly to us. In the name of our Lord, Amen
In 1 Timothy 4:13 (NASB95) we are instructed to give attention to the public reading of Scripture . . .[i] With that in mind I invite you to follow along as we read vs53-65 together.
53The men took Jesus to the chief priest. All the chief priests, the leaders, and the experts in Moses’ Teachings had gathered together. 54Peter followed him at a distance and went into the chief priest’s courtyard. He sat with the guards and warmed himself facing the glow of a fire. 55The chief priests and the whole Jewish council were searching for some testimony against Jesus in order to execute him. But they couldn’t find any. 56Many gave false testimony against him, but their statements did not agree. 57Then some men stood up and gave false testimony against him. They said, 58“We heard him say, ‘I’ll tear down this temple made by humans, and in three days I’ll build another temple, one not made by human hands.’ ” 59But their testimony did not agree even on this point. 60So the chief priest stood up in the center and asked Jesus, “Don’t you have any answer to what these men testify against you?” 61But he was silent. The chief priest asked him again, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62Jesus answered, “Yes, I am, and you will see the Son of Man in the honored position—the one next to God the Father on the heavenly throne. He will be coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63The chief priest tore his clothes in horror and said, “Why do we need any more witnesses? 64You’ve heard him dishonor God! What’s your verdict?” ‘And’ all of them condemned him with the death sentence. 65Some of them began to spit on him. They covered his face and hit him with their fists. They said to him, “Prophesy!” Even the guards took him and slapped him.
May our God bless the reading of His Word this morning.
It’s worth noting that what unfolds is not in days or weeks, but in hours. According to the Gospel writers, a series of three trials are crammed into roughly 5 hours. First comes the Jewish Sanhedrin trial, followed by a trial before Pilate which took place in two stages,[ii] with a third trial sandwiched in between before Herod Antipas.[iii] The point is, this was a very rushed job. [iv] It is also interesting to note that the events follow along the lines of what Jesus had told the disciples back in Mark 10:33–34 (NASB95)
33“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles. 34“They will mock Him and spit on Him, and scourge Him and kill Him, and three days later He will rise again.”
Just as Jesus said, He was betrayed to the high priests (vs10–52) and condemned to death (vs53–64), then handed over to the Gentiles (15:1–20), who will mock him, scourge him, and finally kill him (15:21–47). Then after three days he would come back to life (16:1–8).[v] In the verses we have just read, Jesus was moved from the frying pan into the fire.
It is worth noting that in the previous verses Jesus was pleading with the Father. The weight of the cross was consuming Him. Luke 22:44 (NASB95) tells us that being in agony He was praying very fervently; to the point that His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. Three times He intercedes with the Father, during which He would break from deep emotional intensity to join the disciples, and instead of finding them watching and praying as He had instructed, He finds them sleeping. In is in that context he tells Peter, James and John to v38 “You should be watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; for the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
The word temptation here is best understood by our word test. In context, Jesus was telling them to ‘be on their toes lest, to watch and pray that they not abandon the Gospel of the Kingdom and fall away from faith like Judas. He wanted them to be alert and praying diligently just as He was doing, because the test of their lives was about to unfold. He personally set the example as to what it means to face the hardships of life, and He was showing them and us how to face the hardships of life.
Hebrews 12:2 tells us that He endured the cross and despised the shame. That is, He didn’t bend and He didn’t bow. He was on a mission, and He was going to complete what He had been sent to do. His will had been set because He had spent time aligning Himself with the Father’s will. And unknown to the disciples, they were roughly 60 minutes away from their biggest test of faith. So Jesus tells them, “Stay awake and pray that you don’t fail the ‘faith’ test!”[vi] That’s exactly what Jesus had been doing with His Father, praying that He wouldn’t fail the ultimate test.
Now, coming in v53, the trail between Jesus and the Sanhedrin. But tucked behind the scene another trial was about to unfold. and the trial of Peter’s faith. V54 tells us that Peter had followed Jesus at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and was sitting with the officers and warming himself at the fire.[vii]
The Sanhedrin Trial was led by Annas, the former high priest, and Caiaphas, the ruling high priest, Annas’ son-in-law, along with religious officials and “teachers of the law”. According to v1, Jesus’ fate had already been decided. They have wanted Him dead ever since He healed the man with the withered hand back in Mark 3:6 (ESV) after which the Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians as to how to destroy him.[viii] Now that they have Him, they are busy trying to dig up evidence to make a death sentence stick. They presume guilt, and wanted to disgrace Him before the crowds, and they needed to figure out a way to drag Rome into their quest in order to have Him put to death.
When Jesus was arrested by Judas’ gang, we’re told in John 18:13 that they first brought Him to the house of Annas who is around 80 yrs of age, and had served as High Priest for 9 years.[ix] For some reason the Romans had forced him to step down as High Priest. But he still held sway over the Sanhedrin, and like our presidents today still retained his title of high priest.
So why did Judas’ gang bring Jesus to Annas first off?
Remember, its night, and going to Annas first gave time to get the Sanhedrin together, and second because he actually controls the Sanhedrin. But he has a little problem. The accusers can’t agree as to an indictment. Annas finally gives up and sends Jesus bound to Caiaphas.
That’s where Mark’s account kicks in. Remember, this is all happening in the wee morning hours, and while Annas quizzes Jesus, the Sanhedrin gathers at the house of Caiaphas. Directed by Caiaphas, V55-56 the whole Council repeatedly tries to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any. 56Even though many gave false testimony against him, but their statements did not agree.
However, somehow in the midst of all the chaos, they managed to come up with two indictments.
We have heard Him say, ‘I’ll tear down this temple made by humans, and in three days I’ll build another temple, one not made by human hands.’”[x] Remember, the Temple complex was huge in the Jewish mindset. It was the center of all Jewish life, spiritually and materially. The Temple was the pulse of everything that was Jewish, and by extension, the entire world.[xi] This was no ordinary place. It was the epicenter of their lives. But Mark tells us in v59(GW) they couldn’t get a handle on exactly what Jesus had said.
v60(GW) So the High Priest, who is surely Caiaphas, stood up in the center and asked Jesus, “Don’t you have any answer to what these men testify against you?” What sparked Caiaphas was the silence of Jesus in the midst of the accusations. v61, Jesus kept silent and did not answer. Twisted false witnesses and Jesus’ silence was more than Caiaphas can handle. So he bursts out in frustration and asks the big question, V61, Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One? In Matthew’s account he puts Jesus under oath--I adjure You by the living God, tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God!!!! He goes right to the heart of the issue at hand.[xii]
Now Jesus responds, V62(ESV), I am!![xiii] And then follows by giving the Council an ‘ear-full’[xiv]— And you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”[xv] This is too much for Caiaphas. V63, He tears his clothes. He was consumed by Jesus’ response. For Jesus was telling him and the Council that He had divine authority, and one day they will see it. Not only did Jesus claim that He was the Messiah, the Son of God, but also claimed He had the right of divine judgment at the end of time.
Caiaphas’ response boomed over the council chambers-- blasphemy![xvi]. Why? Because Jesus flat out claimed to be God’s Son. The words of Daniel 7:9-15(ESV) come to bear 9“As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. . . . And 13“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
But they would hear none of it. Vs64–65 (GW) . . . All of them condemned him with the death sentence. 65And some began to spit on him. Covering His face, they hit him with their fists. And even the guards took him and slapped him.
This is a good place to stop. I don’t want us to miss what happened here that day. Caiaphas, the Elders, and the Religious Lawyers of the day feared the might of Rome more than they feared the Judge of the Universe. They were so fearful, and had become so filled with religious pride and professional jealousy over Jesus’ success with the people, that they had become blinded to the Gospel of the Kingdom[xvii] which is the power of God for salvation from sin and the coming judgment for everyone who would believe (Romans 1:16)
Just as Paul told the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 1, v18 (GW) 18The message about the cross is nonsense to those who are being destroyed, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved. … V24 (GW) But to those Jews and Greeks who are called, he is Christ, God’s power and God’s wisdom.
As I thought through what we have just look at, three standout moments came to mind that I want us to ponder and take with us this week.
When the emotional battle was boiling hot, Jesus kept silent. Vs61 (GW) But he kept silent and did not answer.
I find that interesting . . . that in the midst of the emotional boil, He stood before the Council calm, serene, defensive, and completely at peace. It’s a living illustration of Isaiah 26:3 (ESV) 3’God will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.[xviii] Peter would later call to mind in 1 Peter 2:23(ESV , 23When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. Think about that last phrase—He continued entrusting himself to Him who judges justly. Because He did that, His mind was at rest in the midst of the emotional boil. How’s your mind when it comes to the boiling stresses of life?
Let’s think about Jesus’ silence for a moment. His silence was purposeful, and yet in His silence He was speaking. [xix]
I want us to understand that there are times God is purposefully silent in our everyday worlds. His silence can be overwhelming.[xxiii] Genesis 17 is a case in point. The opening verse reads, “When Abram was ninety-nine years old . . . “ That means that thirteen years had passed since the close of chapter 16. For thirteen years Abram heard nothing from God. Not a word of encouragement. Not reminder regarding His promises. The silence of God was huge for Abraham.
We know that with God, every word He speaks is for a purpose. And here we learn that every moment of silence is equally with purpose. Mark this down, in His silence God was preparing Abraham and Sarah for what was coming next. Hear me . . . don’t let God’s silence disturb you. For in His silence He is working. Psalm 19 tells us that He is speaking.[xxiv]
Jesus was silent because there was nothing left to say. The gulf between Him and the hate-filled religious leaders could not be bridged. And yet in His silence He was very much in control. He stayed silent so that He could take our sins to the cross. Through His silence we have been blessed with forgiveness and life.
If you are experiencing the silence of God, it means most probably that He is refining your faith, building your trust for the run ahead. Trust is the central issue that needs your focus. When you pray and hear only silence from heaven, remember God is working in that silence.
The second stand out moment comes also in V61. The high priest presses in on Jesus with the question, Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?
The question takes us back to the opening verse of Mark’s gospel—
Jesus breaks His silence and answers the question: I Am!!! And then affirms His identity, You shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.
This is the climax of the Gospel of the Kingdom. The room explodes, v63ff, The high priest tears his cloths, and screams, What further need do we have of witnesses. This man has blasphemy. What should be the verdict!!!! The demon world was already in turmoil . . . They knew who He was. Matthew 8:29, CSB: they were known to shout out, "What do you have to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?"[xxvi] They knew Jesus, and openly acknowledged that He would one day judge them in the form of horrible torment. And they tremble in His presence.[xxvii]
Jesus now confronts these prideful hypocritical men with His identity. So blinded by their fear, pride and hypocrisy, they couldn’t see or hear Jesus for who He was.
Matthew 28:18, Jesus reveals His royal position with these powerful words, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Peter captures His identity in Acts 2:36 following Jesus resurrection—God has made Him (Jesus) both Lord and Christ. He is both Lord overall and Messiah. Peter emphatically states “this Jesus” (vv. 32, 36), is exalted to the position of highest honor. He is seated next to God the Father (v. 33), for He is the Christ, the Son of God.[xxviii]
To confess Jesus as Lord with our mouths while not submitting our lives to Him is an empty life. If He truly is our Lord, then He controls both our words as well as our deeds. And when we bring these two together, we have grasped the identity of Jesus.[xxix]
The third stand out is that in order for us to grasp Jesus identity, we need a new heart. Why couldn’t Annas, Caiaphas, the Elders, the Religious Lawyers see who Jesus was?
Jesus answers that for us in John 5:43–44 (The Message) 43I came with the authority of my Father, and you either dismiss me or avoid me. If another came, acting self-important, you would welcome him with open arms. 44How do you expect to get anywhere with God when you spend all your time jockeying for position with each other, ranking your rivals and ignoring God?
In context, the point Jesus is making, is as long as we are having a love affair with the praise of men, we will never grasp who Jesus is. We cannot have both the praise of men and the praise of God. When one loves the praise of men more than one loves God, that one is blind to Jesus. Seeking the way of the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16) will blind us to the Gospel of the Kingdom which is the salvation from sin and the coming judgment. Being caught up with the world’s affairs blinds us to the love of God displayed at the cross. In order for us to see Jesus as Lord and Christ we must have a changed of heart. Something has to happen within us to sever the root of love for the world, the root of love for money, the root of love for praise, the root of love for power, the root of love for prestige, and the root of lust. [xxx] When that happens the veil over our eyes is removed. To truly see Jesus is to make Jesus one’s hot pursuit, to love Him above all else. But that is hard. [xxxi]
For that to occur, we need to listen to the Word of God. We’re told in Romans 10:17 (NASB95) that faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Peter explains it this way in 1 Peter 1:23 (NASB95) we are been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God., Jesus discloses Himself only to those who keep his word.”[xxxii] It is the Word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit, that brings a changed heart and the power for living. Listen to this amazing word about God’s wrath in John 3:36: “ Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” If you have believed — truly believed — God’s wrath does not remain on you. Never again will you taste it. Ever!
As we draw this to a close, I would like for us to sing together Change My Heart Oh God so that I can see Jesus.
Change my heart oh God
Make it ever true
Change my heart oh God
May I be like You
Change my heart oh God
Make it ever true
Change my heart oh God
May I be like You
You are the potter
I am the clay
Mold me and make me
This is what I pray
Change my heart oh God
Make it ever true
Change my heart oh God
May I be like You[xxxiii]
Let’s close in prayer --Heavenly Father, Thank You for opening our eyes that we might see our Savior staying the course under great pressure. Standing strong, holding course, rendering powerless Satan who holds people as slaves because of the fear of death. Jesus held the course, and by His blood set us free from deaths’ grip for all who would believe in Him. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus made it so that those who die physically can be raised from the dead to have eternal life with Him. A place where there is no more tears, no more pain, no more sorrow, no more regrets. May our God bless this moment now and forever more. Amen
[i] Cf., Exodus 24:7 (NASB95)7Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!”
[ii] Mark 15:6–15 (NASB95) 6Now at the feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested. 7The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection. 8The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them. 9Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. 11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. 12Answering again, Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” 13They shouted back, “Crucify Him!” 14But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!” 15Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified. Luke 23:13–25 (NASB95) 13Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him. 15“No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. 16“Therefore I will punish Him and release Him.” 17Now he was obliged to release to them at the feast one prisoner. 18But they cried out all together, saying, “Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas!” 19(He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection made in the city, and for murder.) 20Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, 21but they kept on calling out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!” 22And he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death; therefore I will punish Him and release Him.” 23But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. 24And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted. 25And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will.
[iii] Luke 23:6–12 (NASB95) 6When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7And when he learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time. 8Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him. 9And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing. 10And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. 11And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. 12Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other.
[iv] Because this was Passover, Pilate, Governor of Judea (AD26-36), who normally resided in Caesarea on the Mediterranean, was in Jerusalem to stay on top of any rebel rousing; and Herod Antipas, who normally lived in Tiberius on the Sea of Galilee, had also come to Jerusalem because of the Passover crowding. Caesarea to Jerusalem = 68 miles walking; Tiberias to Jerusalem = 100 miles walking. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=how+far+is+caesarea+from+jerusalem& atb=v315-1&ia=web&iaxm=directions&start=what%3AJerusalem% 2Cwhere%3AIsrael&end=what%3ACaesarea% 2Cwhere%3AIsrael&transport=walk . . .
[v] David E. Garland, Mark, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 565.
[vi] Craig A. Evans, Mark 8:27–16:20, vol. 34B, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 2001), 415.
[vii] When they brought Jesus to the Sanhedrin, we’re told in John 18:15–16 (GW) 15Simon Peter and another disciple (that would be John) followed Jesus. And John, well-known to the chief priest, followed Jesus into the chief priest’s courtyard. 16But Peter was left standing outside the gate. So John comes back and talks to the woman who was the gatekeeper and brought Peter into the courtyard.
[viii] Mark 11:18 (NASB95) 18The chief priests and the scribes heard this, and began seeking how to destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him, for the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching. Mark 12:12 (NASB95) 12And they were seeking to seize Him, and yet they feared the people, for they understood that He spoke the parable against them. And so they left Him and went away.
[ix] https://bibleview.org/en/bible/easter/annas/. Annas’s full name was Annas Ben Seth, and he ruled as the High Priest from AD6–AD15. Annas has five sons and one son-in-law who either have been, are, or will be high priest.
[x] Matthew 26:61 (NASB95) 61and said, “This man stated, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.’ ” Mark 15:29 (NASB95)29Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, ; John 2:19 (NASB95)19Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” David E. Garland, Mark, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 560. The Targum on Isaiah 53:5 and the Targum on Zechariah 6:5 specified that the Messiah would build the new temple.
[xi] https://www.epatienthealthcare.com/a-history-of-the-holy-temple-and-its-centrality-to-judaism. According to Jewish tradition, the creation of the world began from the Temple Mount. Furthermore, God used earth from the Temple Mount to create Adam and Eve. According to some accounts, the first sacrifices that Noah offered after disembarking from the Ark were at the Temple Mount. It was also the site of the Akeida, the binding and near sacrifice of Isaac on the Altar by his father, Abraham, at the command of God. In fact, this event took place on the “rock” that can be seen today in the Dome of the Rock mosque.
[xii] Michael J. Wilkins, Matthew, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2004), 864. The high priest is not thinking of Messiah in a Trinitarian sense that we know today to be true of Jesus. Rather, Caiaphas draws on the Jewish conception of Messiah as the Davidic king, God’s Anointed, who will rule his people forever. By leading the questioning this way, Caiaphas is trying to get Jesus to pit himself against the Roman rule, so that Caiaphas can take him to Pilate with charges of insurrection.
[xiii] Matthew 26:64 (NASB95) 64Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.”,
[xiv] From Luke’s account Jesus responds, If I tell you, you will not believe. Luke 22:67
[xv] See Daniel 7:13 (NASB95) 13“I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him.; Revelation 1:7 (NASB95) 7BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. David E. Garland, Mark, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 564. They will resurface as two taunts at the cross: 15:29–30: “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!” and 15:32: “Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Two events occur at Jesus’ death that parallel these taunts. The temple veil is torn from top to bottom (15:38), and a Roman centurion confesses, “Surely this man was the Son of God” (15:39). https://johnmarkhicks.com/2012/07/17/mark-1453-65-trial-1-jewish-trial/ While the temple authorities will advocate and pursue Jesus’ execution because he threatened their power, what they will ultimately “see” is the reign of the Son of Man to whom belongs all dominion and power. This is not a reference to the “second coming” of Jesus (though there is perhaps some extended meaning that might include it) and neither does it mean that the temple authorities will literally (physically as with their eyes) “see” the moment when the Son of Man ascends to the Father to receive authority. Rather, it is an assurance that their political pretensions are an illusion since shortly the Son of Man will reign at the right hand of God. They will come to “see” (learn) this and know the truth about Jesus of Nazareth though they may deny it. The Messiah is the true king and the temple authorities are tenants who have no legitimate power.
[xvi] Cf., Leviticus 24:10–16 (NASB95) 10Now the son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the sons of Israel; and the Israelite woman’s son and a man of Israel struggled with each other in the camp. 11The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name and cursed. So they brought him to Moses. (Now his mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.) 12They put him in custody so that the command of the LORD might be made clear to them. 13Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 14“Bring the one who has cursed outside the camp, and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head; then let all the congregation stone him. 15“You shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘If anyone curses his God, then he will bear his sin. 16‘Moreover, the one who blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him. The alien as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.
[xvii] 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NASB95) 4in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
[xviii]Isaiah 53:7). “yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent”
[xix] He was silent when the Canaanite woman asked him to heal her daughter (Matt 15:21-28). He was silent before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin at the kangaroo court hastily convened to accuse him of blasphemy on trumped up charges (Matt 26:59-63). He was also silent before Herod who saw him as a bit of a curiosity (Luke 23:9).
[xx] Mark 7:24-30; Matthew 15:21-28
[xxi] Luke 23:7-12
[xxii] Cf.,, David McDowell, The Silence Of God, https://davemcdowell.org/2020/02/14/the-silence-of-god. See John 12:23–28 (NASB95) 23And Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25“He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. 26“If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. 27“Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28“Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
[xxiii] Psalm 22:1–3 (NASB95) 1My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. 2O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest. 3Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
[xxiv] Psalm 19 we read that the heavens are declaring the glory of God—that God is speaking in creation, loud enough to hold us accountable for not believing that he exists (Romans 1:18-20).
[xxv] Jeremiah Johnston, Why You Should Not Despair When God Is Silent, https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/why-you-should-not-despair-when-god-is-silent.html
[xxvi] David E. Garland, Mark, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 562.For the first time in the Gospel, “the Son of God” title (cf. 1:1) appears on the lips of a human character in the story. Only demons (3:11; 5:7) and the voice from the cloud (1:11; 9:7) have uttered it until now. Also for the first time in the Gospel (see 1:34; 3:11–12; 8:30; 9:9, 30–31), Jesus publicly accepts that he is the Messiah, with his reply: “I am.”
[xxvii] James 2:19 (NASB95) 19You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.
[xxviii] Simon J. Kistemaker and William Hendriksen, Exposition of the Acts of the Apostles, vol. 17, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 103.
[xxix] 1 John 2:3–6 (NASB95)3By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
5but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
[xxx] John Piper, The Quiet Sign of Calvary Love (Mark 15:29-32), https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/the-quiet-sign-of-calvary-love. If Jesus had stepped down from the cross and leveled the soldiers, they would have believed, but it wouldn’t have been belief in the Jesus of the Bible anymore. It wouldn’t have been belief in the Jesus they were rejecting. It wouldn’t have been belief in the Jesus who saves sinners. It would have been belief in a hero who strikes terror, who defeats the Romans, who establishes his kingdom, and whose partners get glory from the world. Yes, they would have believed. They would have been happy to believe in that Messiah, but they wouldn’t have believed the Jesus of the New Testament.
[xxxi] John 14:23 (NASB95) Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. Matthew 7:14 (NASB95) “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
[xxxii] Cf., Jon Bloom, Give Me More Of God (Why Spiritual Intimacy Can Feel Elusive) https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/ give-me-more-of-god?_hsmi=227895913&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-80gAfB8bMEKoGCyt1A2V33HZpE2OxDn_vqyV-kdOBAdL hMdXBALJWvhJC3II0dzRKqvJZQPYRusaF97ifjcZP9SDzhbQ
[xxxiii] Change My Heart Oh God – Cambia oh Señor tu mi corazón–Eddie Espinosa @1982 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing CCLI 211537