Irony of ironies

But Jesus kept quiet and would not say a word. Again the High Priest questioned him, ‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed God?’

‘I am’, answered Jesus, ‘and you will all see the Son of Man seated on the right-hand side of the Almighty and coming with the clouds of heaven!’

The High Priest tore his robes and said, ‘We don’t need any more witnesses! You heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?’

They all voted against him: he was guilty and should be put to death.
(verses 61-64)

Read Mark 14:53-65

As far as I can tell, this is the only situation in the whole Bible where a high priest is reported to have torn his robes. The significance of this unprecedented behaviour must not be overlooked. God’s law explicitly forbade such an act (Leviticus 21:10). To tear the high priest’s robes was to blaspheme God’s holy name and to incite his wrath upon the whole community (Leviticus 10:6).

How ironic that the charge of blasphemy should be brought against God’s Son by an act of blasphemy! How ironic that the verdict of guilty should be brought against God’s Messiah by an act of illegal prosecution (Mark 14:55,56)! And yet, by this blasphemous charge, by this illegal verdict, by this innocent death, your sins and the sins of the whole world were dealt with, once and for all.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Blessed God, in your innocent suffering you took my guilt, in your humble death you took my shame. In your glorious coming take all my living and dying, and let me rest in you. Amen

by Adam Cooper, in ‘New Strength for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 1998)

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