They took Jesus to the high priest’s home where the leading priests, the elders, and the teachers of religious law had gathered. Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance and went right into the high priest’s courtyard. There he sat with the guards, warming himself by the fire.
Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find evidence against Jesus, so they could put him to death. But they couldn’t find any. Many false witnesses spoke against him, but they contradicted each other. Finally, some men stood up and gave this false testimony: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this Temple made with human hands, and in three days I will build another, made without human hands.’” But even then they didn’t get their stories straight!
Then the high priest stood up before the others and asked Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” But Jesus was silent and made no reply. Then the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
Jesus said, “I Am. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?”
“Guilty!” they all cried. “He deserves to die!”
Then some of them began to spit at him, and they blindfolded him and beat him with their fists. “Prophesy to us,” they jeered. And the guards slapped him as they took him away.
How do you plead?At the beginning of every trial in America there is a listing of the charges and then the submission of the plea. The defendant then has an opportunity to declare his innocence or admit his guilt. In many cases the defendant’s attorney will enter the plea for their client.
Not so with Jesus. His trial is stacked from the beginning. Before there is a chance to even clarify the charges, witnesses are brought in with trumped up stories. The scene is chaotic, much like the courtroom in Texas last week.
In the middle of the chaos the lead prosecutor, who is also playing the judge, asks the key question. How do you plead? “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus, silent up to this point, answers the question with a resounding: “YES.”
There is no denying his identity. Jesus is God. Guilty as charged, Jesus is sentenced to death for who He was and is. Some of our brothers and sisters in Christ know all to well the reality of answering this question at a trial. In China, many Muslim controlled countries, and other places around the world, men and women are killed for answering “Yes” to the question of identity.
“Are you a Christian?”
In the first century people who refused to profess Caesar as Lord and instead answered that Jesus was Lord were killed by the thousands. Proclaiming one’s identity is not always easy. It was not easy for Jesus, and it is not easy for many Christians today.
Jesus, I thank you for boldly proclaiming your true identity as God in the face of death. Thank you for the freedoms I enjoy here in America where I can profess my identity as a Christian without fear. I pray for those who do not have this freedom and ask that you would strengthen them with boldness to proclaim their identity in you despite the risks. - Dan Jones
Blasphemy and punishment!I am always fascinated, and not a little bit convicted, when I observe the contrast between how religious people respond to perceived disrespect of those persons and objects they consider sacred and how Jesus responded. The religious leaders in today’s story found sufficient cause to torture Jesus to death because they believed he disrespected God.
Consider modern Islam. When Rushdie wrote Satanic Verses, passionate Muslims put a price on his head. More recently, when Dutch cartoonists caricatured Mohammed, riots broke out around the world. While Christians have moved beyond placing a price on the heads of blasphemers, Christ-followers loudly express righteous indignation at the likes of Hollywood moguls who disrespect Jesus. We call for boycotts and bans and display for the world the same attitudes as offended Muslims and first century Jews.
Jesus was different. Here is God in human form. If anything or anyone deserved absolute respect, it was he. Still, when others abused or ridiculed him, he refused to strike back or even protest. His disciples would have called fire down from heaven just to punish those who rejected Jesus. Jesus refused to strike back when his sacred head was slapped or his sacred heart pierced.
He warned his followers that those who hated him, rather than worship and respect him, would also hate them. He never called his followers to stand up and defend his honor when blasphemed against. (Peter tried in Gethsemane, until Jesus insisted he sheath his sword.)
Perhaps the world that makes sport of Jesus would begin to see him in a different light if Christians acted more like Jesus in the face of such disrespect. Maybe they’d even begin to face the reality that Jesus is fundamentally different than any other religious leader ever born.
Grace-filled God, I recognize that you do not need me to defend your honor by becoming angry, indignant, or violent when others abuse your name. Remind me again, from the behavior of the one I claim to follow, that reacting to blasphemy with grace and mercy and speaking truth with love, is the model your Son provided. - Mike Leamon
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