Read Mark 14:43-65
Judas was given a small arresting party of police and soldiers (John 18) in order to seize Jesus and bring Him before the religious court for trial. The religious leaders had issued a warrant for Jesus’ arrest, and Judas was acting as Jesus’ official accuser.
According to John 18:10, the person who pulled out a sword was Peter. Luke 22:51 records that Jesus immediately healed the man’s ear and prevented any further bloodshed. Just hours earlier, these disciples had vowed never to desert Jesus. Church tradition says that the young man that ran away naked may have been John Mark, the writer of this Gospel. The incident is not mentioned in any of the other accounts.
The Romans controlled Israel, but the Jews were given some authority over religious and minor civil disputes. The Jewish ruling body, the high council, was made up of 71 of Israel’s religious leaders. It was assumed that these men would be just. Instead, they showed great injustice in the trial of Jesus, even up to the point of making up lies to use against Him.
The statement that the false witnesses finally agreed to use as an accusation twisted Jesus’ actual words. Jesus did not say, “I will destroy this Temple made with human hands;” He said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2). Jesus was not talking about Herod’s temple but about His own body.
This trial by the high council had two phases. A small group met at night, and then the full high council met at daybreak (Luke 22). They tried Jesus for religious offenses, such as calling himself the Son of God, which, according to the law, was blasphemy. The trial was fixed: These religious leaders had already decided to kill Jesus (Luke 22).
To the first question, Jesus made no reply because it was based on confusing and erroneous evidence. Not answering was wiser than trying to clarify the fabricated accusations. But if Jesus had refused to answer the second question, it could have been taken as a denial of His mission. Instead, His answer predicted a powerful role reversal. Sitting at God’s right hand in the place of power, He would come to judge His accusers, and they would have to answer His questions (Psalm 110; Revelation 20).
Of all people, the high priest and members of the high council should have recognized the Messiah because they knew the Scriptures thoroughly. Their job was to point people to God, but they were more concerned about preserving their reputation and holding on to their authority. They valued human security more than eternal security.