Mark 14:51-65 (ESV)

51 And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, 52 but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked. 53 And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. 54 And 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. 55 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. 56 For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. 57 And 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.’ ” 59 Yet even about this their testimony did not agree. 60 And 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?” 61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 And 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.” 63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? 64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. 65 And 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.

Many commentators believe the “young man” mentioned in verses 51 and 52 to be Mark himself. This hypothesis argues that Mark’s father owned the house where Jesus celebrated the Passover. After Jesus and the eleven left for Gethsemane, Mark took his cloak off, wrapped himself in a linen cloth, and went to bed. Judas and the crowd may have initially returned to the house to look for Jesus before they moved on to the Garden. The servants who worked for Mark’s father may have woken Mark up after Judas left. Then, maybe Mark ran to Gethsemane to warn Jesus, but by the time he got there, it was too late! The disciples fled, and so did Mark. The accusers tried to seize Mark, possibly as a witness, but he got away, leaving his linen cloth in their hands. We don’t know for sure, but we can be certain Jesus was taken to the residence of the high priest, Caiaphas. Peter courageously followed, waiting to find out what would happen. The chief priests sought to put Jesus to death, but the religious leaders couldn’t get the agreement between witnesses that the law required for a conviction. So Caiaphas asked Jesus directly, “Aren’t you going to say anything in your defense?” Jesus remained silent. Then Caiaphas asked, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus replied, “I am” and added, “You will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” That was it! Caiaphas tore his clothes, expressing horror over Jesus’ words. Jesus claimed to be God.

If anyone ever tells you that Jesus never said he was God, just point her to Mark 14:62. The claims Jesus made about himself were so radical that the high priest tore his clothes in shock. Jesus said, “I am the Christ” or the Messiah. He didn’t have to, but he went on to say that he was the Son of Man, referring back to Daniel’s prophecy in Daniel 7:13. And he added that he would be “coming with the clouds.” This was a way of stating he would be coming back in judgment. Jesus stood trial before the men he created, but one day they will stand trial before him!  Now is the time to get your life right with God. Confess your sins and follow him today. Keep your eyes on the clouds, because Jesus is coming back soon.