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Author: Stephen Weller
791 words, 4 minutes read time

Jesus Provides the Incriminating Evidence

Scripture: Matthew 26:63-66; Mark 14:61-62

In the previous lesson we resolved the issue of how many denials for Peter and concluded it was six denials but summarized as three denials by Jesus because of their occurrence in three locations. In this lesson we will return to the trial of Jesus.

^{Mk 14:61} Again the high priest said to him, ^{Mt 26:63} “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God, ^{Mk 14:61} the Son of the Blessed?”

Neither Annas nor Caiaphas were able to obtain any incriminating evidence against Jesus, so Caiaphas now demands that Jesus tells them if he is the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus has been saying this as he taught the crowds and through performing signs and wonders he demonstrated this fact, but Caiaphas wants a clear statement from Jesus. This statement is important because if he confesses this he could be accused of insurrection against Rome and tried before Pilate for treason.

^{Mt 26:64} Jesus said to him, “You have said so. ^{Mk 14:62} I am. ^{Mt 26:64} But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” ⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. ⁶⁶ What is your judgment?”

Jesus admits that he is the Christ, the Son of God, and then he adds what they wanted to hear as evidence against him. Jesus said, “From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Referring to himself as the Son of Man, Jesus is pointing back to Daniel 7:13 – 14 ESV: ¹³ “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. ¹⁴ And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”

To be seated at the right hand of Power, Jesus claims that position for himself and points back to Psalm 110:1 – 2 ESV: ¹ “The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” ² The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies!” “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1 SV). This Word is the Lord, the Son of God, the Son of Man.

Jesus said that he would be “coming [back] on the clouds of heaven” and when he comes he, “the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done” (Matthew 16:26 ESV), and “Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30 ESV).

Hearing these things, the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?” According to Leviticus 10:6 (ESV), it is normally prohibited for a high priest to tear his robes: “And Moses said to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar his sons, “Do not let the hair of your heads hang loose, and do not tear your clothes, lest you die, and wrath come upon all the congregation; but let your brothers, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning that the Lord has kindled.” What Jesus said was so astounding that it evoked this vehement response and the statement of blasphemy.

Conclusion

When required to answer if he was the Christ, the Son of God, Jesus stated that he was and then provided more incriminating information by saying that he was the Son of Man and will be seated at the right hand of Power and will return on the clouds of heaven. This infuriates the high priest and he lashes out with the statement of blasphemy and asks what the judgment against him should be. In the next lesson we will find out.