Betrayal Begins
But even their testimony was inconsistent. Mark 14:59 · Berean Standard Bible
But even these witnesses couldn't get their stories to match up.
Two strikes now. By their own law, they still don't have a valid case. But the high priest is about to take matters into his own hands.
Mark notes the continued failure of the testimony.
Every attempt to frame Jesus with false charges keeps falling apart. God's truth can't be taken down by lies, even coordinated ones.
Even this more specific testimony fails the legal requirement of consistency, as the witnesses' accounts still do not harmonize with each other.
Mark emphasizes this point to show that by the Torah's own standards, the entire proceeding was illegitimate. No valid testimony has been established against Jesus.
The narrator delivers the verdict on the testimony's legal validity.
Even the coached witnesses can't agree on the details. The prosecution has completely failed to build a lawful case, yet the trial presses on.
57Then some men stood up and testified falsely against Him:
58“We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple, and in three days I will build another that is made without hands.’”
59But even their testimony was inconsistent.
60So the high priest stood up before them and questioned Jesus, “Have You no answer? What are these men testifying against You?”
61But Jesus remained silent and made no reply.
Read all of Mark 14 — A woman anoints Jesus with costly perfume while Judas negotiates his price. The Last Supper, Gethsemane, and Peter's denial unfold in rapid succession.
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