Religious institutions - are they ALL good enough since they are "religious" institutions?

Mark 14
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 temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’ ” 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 Messiah, 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.

John 8:19
They said to him therefore, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also."

I always thought Jesus was spit upon and ridiculed by the Romans. That the Jews instigated the trial, but the Romans carried it all out. However, in Mark 14, I see that Jesus was already blindfolded and spit on and slapped by the Sanhedrin...and convicted of any crime they could come up with because Jesus made then look bad. Jesus disagreed with them. He made them look bad in front of the crowds because he could explain the scriptures and they couldn't. They didn't even stand up for what the scriptures meant even though they had learned the scriptures more than anyone.

The Sanhedrin were part of the religious  institution in Jesus day. I find it very interesting that they were the ones who initiated/instigated Christ's death. The Romans did crucify him, but only because the Sanhedrin insisted and then coaxed the Jews into following their lead. Even so, Jesus did not fight back. His own people betrayed Him and He still bore their scorn in order to give them a chance to be reconciled to God!

So, the next time you rely directly on a human religious institution to direct your life, think about Jesus. Test your institution. Do they know the scriptures...and follow the scriptures? Do they believe and practice John 8:19?  If they believe in God, then they should believe in Jesus. If they believe in Jesus, then they should believe in God. If they miss just one part of that, Jesus or God, then they are just an institution, not a body of believers. If that is the case...Run! Run to the nearest body of believers that believe in the scriptures, practice the scriptures, and believe John 8:19. Associate with them. The other religious institutions will bring about your downfall!