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October 1930
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Seed Thoughts From St. Mark B y R ev . W ilfred M. H opkins C hapter X IV— V erses 51-72
§ CERTAIN YOUNG MAN, etc.—Who this was we do not know; perhaps some one who had been bathing, and had flung his upper garment round him and followed the crowd out of curiosity. He was rich, for the sindon was knot worn by the poor or the middle classes. Idle curios ity often leads into the place of danger, where there is no divine protection. Note that Christ’s disciples were not touched; they were .where they should have been, and their hour was not yet come. 53—THE HIGH PRIEST—That is, Annas (cf. Jno. 18:13), who was high priest according to the Mosaic law; and then to Caiaphas, who was high priest by human appointment (Annas having been deposed by the Roman Emperor). WERE COME TOGETHER THE CHIEF PRIESTS, etc. That is, the mem bers o f the Sanhedrin, the proper body for trying ecclesiastical offenses and offenses against the Mosaic law. 54—PETER FOLLOWED HIM FROM AFAR—Another step toward Peter’s fall; his. old impetuosity is sorely needed now. AS FAR AS THE INSIDE OF THE HIGH PRIEST’S COURTYARD—John accompanied him and ultimately got him admitted (cf. Jno. 18:16). SITTING W ITH THE SER VANTS—Another downward step ! To associate (unless duty calls us) with the enemies of Christ will inevitably lead us to deny Him sooner or later; the only safe way is to be separate, as far as possible, from sinners (cf. Ps. 1 :1). WARMING HIM SELF—Thinking of his own comfo.rt rather than of his Lord’s danger and distress. How cold the loyel 55—WERE SEEKING TESTIMONY AGAINST JESUS —The Greek tense points to their persistent efforts and shows at once the difficulty of fincfing it and their malicious determination to destroy Him. AND FOUND NONE—Nor has any ever been found; His challenge to men still goes unanswered (cf. Jno. 8:46). 56—MANY BARE FALSE WITNESS—Prompted thereto by self-interest. To what length will not men go for the sake o f safety, or profit, or reputation?' THEIR TESTIMONIES WERE NOT CONSISTENT—The law required two agreeing witnesses (cf. Deut. 19:15). Untruth ever tends to be incon sistent and contradictory of itself. 58—This was a lie of the Devil’s own favorite type, for there was an admixture o f truth in it. Lies mixed with truth are more deadly than those that are wholly untrue. Here truth was turned into a lie by addition (cf. Jno. 2:19). Jesus Christ did not say “made with hands,” nor “without hands.” 59—THEIR TESTIMONY WAS NOT CONSISTENT (cf. Matt. 26:61)—They were examined apart, and their reports differed; only truth can be depended upon to furnish reliable testimony which cannot be confounded. 60—ANSWEREST THOU NOTHING?—The high priest was amazed at the patient, silent endurance o f obloquy, so for eign to the habit and thought of the age. 61—HE HELD HIS PEACE (cf. 1 Pet. 2:23)—And we are to follow in His steps. ART THOU THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE BLESSED?—For the solemn form of adjura tion used, cf. Matt. 26:63. This was a lawful question and, apart from the adjuration, must be answered. JESUS SAID, I AM —Though He knew the admission would procure His condem nation to death.
62— SITTING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER—A distinct claim to share the throne o f the Divine (cf. Psa. 110:1; Dan. 7 :13, 14) ; an amazing claim, truly, for a captive Carpenter; yet once again He was the TRUTH and therefore a true Prophet (cf. Heb 10:12). COMING W ITH THE CLOUDS— Note the insistence on this coming (cf. Matt. 16:27; 24:30; Rev. 1:7). In the face of all this, how can men deny the personal second coming of Christ with any show of reason at all ? 63— RENT HIS CLOTHES—This was forbidden as a sign of personal mourning (cf. Lev. 21:10, 11) but was allowable in the case o f blasphemy (cf. Acts 14:13, 14.)* 64— YE HAVE HEARD THE BLASPHEMY—And it was blasphemy if His words were not true; but with all the testi mony o f the Prophets and all the evidence o f the miracles they should have known that His words were true; there was no excuse for their unbelief. HOW DOES IT APPEAR TO YOU?—The whole thing is a solemn farce; he asks for the ver dict which was decided upon ere the trial began: CON DEMNED HIM TO BE LIABLE TO DEATH—As indeed He was if He had uttered blasphemy (cf. Lev. 24:16). It is note worthy that they, who heard Him and who knew the Jewish law thoroughly, understood Him to claim divinity; it was reserved for alien critics o f later centuries, who never did hear Him, to deny that He ever made that claim! 65— SOME BEGAN TO SPIT—No doubt some of the guards who held Him. Spitting upon a person was a sign o f the greatest contempt (cf. Num. 12:14; Deut. 25:9). This spitting was according to prophecy (cf. Isa. 50:6). TO COVER HIS FACE—So that He could not see who was attacking Him. TO SMITE HIM W ITH THE FIST AND TO SAY TO HIM, PROPHESY, etc.—That is, declare who it was that smote Him (cf. Matt. 26:68). [The root meaning o f the word “prophesy” is, not to foretell, but to tell out, declare.] This was a sneering reference, no doubt, to His claim to supernatural power. THE OFFICERS [or servants] RECEIVED HIM W ITH BLOWS— All this He, the Incarnate GOD, endured for us, and endured it with patient silence (cf. Isa. 53:7). What an example of meek endurance is here (cf. 1 Pet. 2:20-23). 66— PETER BEING IN THE COURT BELOW—Still warming himself, all too oblivious of his Master’s danger and suffering. ONE OF THE MAIDS—Possibly a young female slave, yet the braggart Peter trembles and fears before her. 67— GAZED UPON HIM-—She thought she recognized him; she may have seen him with our Lord (or with John, whom she probably knew to be one of His disciples) in the streets of Jerusalem. THOU . WAST W ITH THE NAZARENE, JESUS!—There was contempt as well as accusation in the words (cf. Jno. 1 :46). This contempt may have contributed to the denial; an inordinate craving for popularity often leads into evil. .68—I DO NOT KNOW [HIM], NEITHER DO I UN DERSTAND WHAT YOU SAY—Here is ' a double sin; Peter denies all knowledge of his Lord and then adds another lie, for he understood well enough what she said. How one sin leads to another! The lies were as heinous as the denial, every bit (cf. Prov. 12:22; Rev. 21:8). OUT INTO THE PORCH—
•Paul and Barnabas w ere not, o f course, Levitical. priests- but, -a« .chief m inisters o f Christ, they would probably fe e l •soma obligation to fo llow the custom founded on the old law .
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