Mark 14:53-72
This is a religious problem, a
problem the religious leaders try to deal with in a backhanded way but cannot
find a trusted testimony against Jesus. So they cut to the chase: “Are you the
Christ?” That is a huge question, the heart of the problem. Jesus’ answer
condemns himself and undermines all the authority of the religious leaders. The
response is dramatic rage. There is no time to reflect upon the answer or the
meaning of the question. Do they not want and expect the Messiah? Are they
responding out of fear of what it may mean or fear at the possible loss of
their power base? Why do they react with violence to Jesus peacefulness as the
Christ?
And then we get the first contrite
heart, Peter. He saw Jesus in ministry. He knew Jesus personally. He heard the
parables, the teachings and the explanations. Peter was an insider who
proclaimed Jesus as Christ. And he promised to die with Jesus, to stand next to
him through it all. But he could not. And he broke down and wept. It is not
until one is broken that one can be remade as God would have you. No amount of
training, praying or promising amounts to one moment of brokenness and weeping,
ready to be remade.
Change never comes without
sacrifice or pain.
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