Before the Sanhedrin

SCRIPTURE
MARK 14:53-65

53They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders and teachers of the law came together. 54Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.
55The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
57Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him:58"We heard him say, 'I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.' " 59Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
60Then 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?" 61But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ,[ad] the Son of the Blessed One?"
62"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."
63The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. 64"You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?"
They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, "Prophesy!" And the guards took him and beat him.

OBSERVATION
Mark 14:58
58"We heard him say, 'I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.'
Matt 26:61
61and declared, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.'

This verse was a result of twisted words. What Jesus actually said…

John 2:18-20
19Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."

He was referring to his body that they will destroy. But because they twisted His words, the false witnesses said Jesus had intention to destroy the temple.

APPLICATION
When a sentence is told using even with one additional word, truth can be twisted and altered. It becomes a lie.

PRAYER
Lord, it's funny how this verse appears on the page of my devotional today. Surely, it saddens you when people lie and your children are accused. You understand this as you were in this very picture. It surely hurts you more when these things still happen today... Help us to believe there is still hope, justice and you are mighty over all things. You are still in control. In Jesus' name, amen.