Thursday, March 15

Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you 

not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are 

bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.  

Again the high priest asked Him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the 

Blessed One?” “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man 

sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds 

of heaven.”   (Mark 14:  60-62) 

So here’s a room full of those in authority, hostile accusers looking 

for ways to take Him down. Repeated accusations, illogical 

complaints. It’s like He knows what they want Him to say, - He knows 

the risks. He knows that if He speaks to the truth, He will say what 

they want to hear and they will take Him down. So He waits. He waits 

until the top dog asks Him pointedly. Only then does He speak. Only 

then does He speak to the truth: “I am.” 

Three times Peter denied he knew Jesus and that he was one of 

Jesus’ followers. He made the denial to people in much lower status 

and authority than Jesus faced. Peter faced hostility and was afraid to 

speak to the truth; Jesus faced hostility with truth.  

As followers of Jesus, we are called to speak to the truth, to witness 

to God’s love. Unlike Jesus, we don’t generally face the risk of 

personal destruction when we are called. We might expect to face 

personal embarrassment or some loss of social position and comfort 

if we witness to God’s love in settings that are not of our choosing. 

But I believe that is what we are called to do. So I pray that I may 

have the courage to be able to say – by my words and by my actions 

– that I am a believer, that I am a follower of Him who said “I am.” 

Tom O’Brien