The Innocence of Christ Mark 14:53-65

Call to Worship (Adapted from Psalm 66, Romans 5)
Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth! Sing about the glory of his name! Tell the world how glorious He is!
COME AND SEE WHAT OUR GOD HAS DONE
By His great power He rules forever.  Let the whole world bless our God and loudly sing His praises!
OUR LIVES ARE IN HIS HANDS, THOUGH WE FALL WE WILL NOT BE OVERWHELMED
Come and listen,  I will tell you what he did for me.  When I was dead in my sin, the Father restored my soul by the death of His Son.
PRAISE GOD, WHO NEVER WITHDRAWS HIS UNFAILING LOVE FROM ME

Sermon Text: 
Mark 14
53And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. 
54And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire. 
55Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. 
56For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. 
57And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, 
58“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’ ” 
59Yet even about this their testimony did not agree. 

Mark 2:6–7
6Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 
7“Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 

Mark 3:1–2
1Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 
2And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 

Mark 3:6
6The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

Mark 14
56For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. 
57And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, 
58“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’ ” 
59Yet even about this their testimony did not agree. 

1 Peter 3:18
18For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 

2 Corinthians 5:21
21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 

Mark 14
60And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 
61But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 
62And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 
63And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? 
64You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. 
65And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows. 

1 Peter 3:18
18Christ died once for our sins. An innocent person died for those who are guilty. Christ did this to bring you to God, when his body was put to death and his spirit was made alive.