All the religious big-wigs gathered together in the chambers of the High Priest: the Chief Priests, Elders, and Teachers of the Law (Mark 14:53). All seeking to build a case against Jesus so they could put Him to death (Mark 14:55). It seemed that in all of Jesus' public speaking, to all the crowds, and over a three-year period, no two people could get their testimonies straight (Mark 14:56-59).
Finally, the High Priest just asked Jesus directly, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" (Mark 14:61). Imagine the embarrassment they could have avoided if they had just asked Him in the first place! Here they are, so bent on killing the Lord that they would coach corrupt witnesses to build a case on false testimonies, and all they had to do was ask Jesus Himself!
Jesus didn't mince words: "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming in the clouds of heaven." (Mark 14:62)
Jesus left them no room for doubt. Jesus told them exactly who He was, and that's all they required. Notice that they did not even consider whether His words were true or not, these men who could not find two witnesses against Jesus now had a room full of them!
So they condemned Him to death, and proceeded to abuse Him: they spit on Him, blindfolded and struck Him. Then the guards took Him and beat Him. (Mark 14:65)
What kind of person knowingly condemns himself to inhumane abuse and humiliating death on a cross? An honest man does - a man who is speaking the truth.
Those who condemned Jesus were not seeking the truth - they were protecting their corrupt way of life, even if it meant putting their own Messiah to death on a cross.
Do you ridicule and spit on people who tell the truth? Do you ignore the truth because the truth is not what you want to hear?
Think about the times you didn't want to know the truth in a matter. There is an ultimate price to pay for denying the truth.
Seek the truth.