Commentary on Mark 14:53-72

The scene shifts once more: from Gethsemane to the residence of the High Priest where Jesus will be interrogated by the leaders. Mark's masterful narrative style is again in evidence. He frames the interrogation scene with that of Peter's denials, clearly contrasting the disciple's fear with Jesus' courage.

A parade of false witnesses are brought forward against Jesus, but their accusations are contradictory. Some, however, bring up a charge that jogs the memory of the reader of the Gospel: "I will destroy this temple made with hands and within three days I will build another not made with hands." Earlier in the gospel Mark had presented Jesus as a prophet on fire with zeal, purging the temple and predicting its demise (11:15-19; 13:1-2). Indeed the Risen Christ would be the new temple of God, the "rejected stone" that would become the cornerstone of a new sacred people in whom God would dwell (12:10-11). This accusation of the trial would be remembered when the veil of the sanctuary would tear apart at the moment of Jesus' death (15:38).

Frustrated by the flawed testimony of his witnesses, the High Priest poses the key question to Jesus: ''Are you the Messiah, the son of the Blessed One?" There is no hesitation in Jesus' reply: "I am." And he adds a challenge to his opponents: they would one day see their prisoner coming as the "Son of Man,'' that haunting figure who would experience humiliation and rejection, but then would be lifted up in exaltation by God and return in triumph at the end of the world.

Jesus' bold declaration of his identity is rejected as blasphemous by his opponents; they condemn him to death and begin to abuse him. The reader who knows who Jesus truly is can only marvel in deep sadness at how spiritually blind we are all capable of becoming.

Mark shifts our attention from Jesus standing before his captors back to the courtyard below where Peter warily edges near a group of servants huddling around a warm fire. As if in slow motion, we watch the power of fear break down a disciple's resolve. Three times Peter denies he even knows Jesus, finally cursing and swearing as panic takes hold. A cock crows and Peter remembers Jesus' warning at the supper. The terrible realization of his failure surges over him and he begins to weep.

The story is so familiar we may not be able to recapture its incredible shock. The full measure of the disciples' failure can be taken in this single tragic story: the leader of those whom Jesus called publicly to discipleship renounces his allegiance to his Master.

Email questions or comments about this page to Fr. Victor Hoagland, C.P. Copyright 1997, Passionist Publications, Union City, NJ USA. Passionist Publications reserves all rights to text, illustrations, and HTML.