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Author: Stephen Weller
644 words, 3 minutes read time

Verdict Confirmation Trial

Scripture: Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66-69

With the previous lesson we finished the section in which Jesus was tried before Caiaphas the high priest and based upon false charges was condemned to die. With this lesson we begin a new section in which Jesus is brought before the assembly of the elders of the people and the whole council to be condemned to death.

^{Lk 22:66} When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, ^{Mk 15:1} the whole council, ^{Lk 22:66} gathered together, both chief priests and scribes.

The illegal trial was held during the night and now it is morning and Jesus is brought before the council for a confirmation trial. The assembly of the elders of the people is understood to be the Sanhedrin. “Both chief priests and scribes” describes the makeup of the Sanhedrin.

^{Lk 22:66} And they led him away to their council, and they said, ⁶⁷ “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, ⁶⁸ and if I ask you, you will not answer. ⁶⁹ But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”

Jesus is brought before the assembled council and they ask him again if he is the Christ. They want the whole council to hear his claim which they used to condemn him during the night at the illegal trial. To their question, Jesus responds with two short statements that indicates that he does not intend to enter into a dialog with them because their minds are already made up. There is nothing Jesus could say that would change their minds, so he simply says, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer.”

Again, Jesus provides them with the truth, the evidence they will use to condemn him to death, and said to them, “From now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” By this statement, Jesus is declaring that he not only the human Messiah anticipated by the Jews but also the divine Son of Man who sits at the right hand of God and who will come in power to reign over the earth.

The “divine Son of Man” refers 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.”

“Who sits at the right hand of God” refers 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!” During this time that Jesus is seated at the Father’s right hand, lost sheep are being search for and found throughout the domain of darkness leaving the enemies of God as his footstool. One day the kingdom of God will be complete and will be an everlasting dominion in which we will enjoy an eternity with God.

Conclusion

This confirmation trial that is taking place before the whole council is about over as Jesus again condemns himself by telling them the truth about who he is. To seal their case, they will ask Jesus once again the question, “Are you the Son of God?”