Mark 14:53-72

Jesus was brought before the high priests to be tried for blasphemy. Witnesses were brought forth to testify against Him, but they couldn't get their stories straight. The high priest asked Jesus directly if He was the Christ. When Jesus answered that He was, this was all the high priest needed. He and the rest of the high priests pronounced Jesus guilty and deserving of death.

Jesus was telling the truth. He was not guilty of any blasphemy because He actually is who He said He was - the Christ, the Son of the living God. The thing is, when someone is out to get you, they're going to take whatever you say or do and try to use it against you. How easy would it have been for Jesus to say, "I'm not the Christ"? But He didn't because it wasn't the truth. We should remember this as well. When challenged about our faith - who we are as Christians and what we believe - we need to stand for the truth no matter what the consequences may be.

We see the opposite side of this lesson in Peter. Three times he was asked if he was a follower of Jesus; three times he said no. Mark says that he cursed and swore when denying Jesus. He was afraid what the consequences would be if he was found out as one of Jesus' disciples. Following Jesus isn't always easy, but pretending to be someone we're not doesn't make it any easier.