Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

 

 And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were assembled all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes.  But Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest.  And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire.  Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none.  For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree.  Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying, "We heard Him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.'"  But not even then did their testimony agree.  And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, "Do You answer nothing?  What is it these men testify against You?"  But He kept silent and answered nothing.  Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?"  Jesus said, "I am.  And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."  Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "What further need do we have of witnesses?  You have heard the blasphemy!  What do you think?"  And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.  Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, "Prophesy!"  And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands.

 

- Mark 14:53–65 

 

On Saturday we read that, immediately, while Jesus was still speaking in the garden of Gethsemane, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.  Now His betrayer had given the a signal, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him and lead Him away safely."  As soon as he had come, immediately he went up to Him and said to Him, "Rabbi, Rabbi!" and kissed Him.  Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him.  And one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.  Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me?  I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me.  But the Scriptures must be fulfilled."  Then they all forsook Him and fled.  Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body.  And the young men laid hold of him, and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked. 

 

And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were assembled all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes.  But Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest.  And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire.  Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none.  For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree.  Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying, "We heard Him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.'"  But not even then did their testimony agree.  And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, "Do You answer nothing?  What is it these men testify against You?"  But He kept silent and answered nothing.  Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?"  Jesus said, "I am.  And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."  Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "What further need do we have of witnesses?  You have heard the blasphemy!  What do you think?"  And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.  Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, "Prophesy!"  And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands.  In today's reading, Jesus responds to the questioning of the high priest ("Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?") by saying "I am."   In Greek, this is εγω ειμι/ego eimi, which is the divine Name of God, as given to Moses in Exodus 3:14.  My study Bible comments that its use indicates a theophany, meaning a revelation of God Himself.  The use of this Name by a mere human being was considered to be blasphemy and was punishable by death (Leviticus 24:16; see John 8:58).  But because Jesus is fully god, my study Bible explains, His use of this Name cannot be blasphemy.  Instead, it reveals His unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit.  My study Bible further notes that only in St. Mark's Gospel is Christ's answer so direct.  Jesus adds, "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."  To sit at the right hand of the Power means to share authority with God the Father.  My study Bible indicates that this statement has been clearly understood by the high priest to be a claim of equality with God.  

 

In the story of Christ's Crucifixion we see a repeated pattern in which things look strangely upside down, not working in accordance with the proper order of things.  In today's reading we see that pattern.  There are witnesses called to testify against Him.  Clearly witnesses have been set up to do this, but they are also false witnesses; all lie.  Not only that but despite that this has been clearly arranged, they cannot get their stories straight, so that their testimonies did not agree.  Then some are called specifically to testify against Him regarding His words about rebuilding the temple, as reported in John 2:18-22, in which this image was given by Christ to illustrate His Resurrection after three days.  But even these witnesses cannot keep their stories straight, and neither do their testimonies agree.  So there is this twisted sense to this trial, which happens at night in violation of Jewish law in the first place.  Those who are supposed to testify to something that they witnessed speak of things which didn't happen, or twist words they clearly do not understand and didn't hear themselves, and even their concocted stories don't agree with one another.  To all of this lying Jesus remains silent.  He answers not a word.  Finally, the chief priest asks Him a direct question, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?"  And Jesus answers truthfully.  He gives perhaps an even more full answer than was necessary, but nonetheless here is finally a truthful Witness at this trial.  He says, "I am.  And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."  But when Jesus bears true witness to Himself and the fullness of His identity, He is accused of the most fearsome kind of lie. The chief priest is satisfied, saying, "What further need do we have of witnesses?"  He then charges Jesus with blasphemy, a charge which renders Him condemned to be deserving of death.  Think of it, He is the author of life, our Creator, being assigned to the conviction deserving death by these men meant to be serving God in their capacities in the temple.  The Lord they are supposed to honor, because He has told them the truth, is now spat upon, blindfolded, and ridiculed with demands to "Prophesy!"  The officers of the temple strike Him with the palms of their hands; He is slapped in a manner meant to demean His stature as a Man.  The King of kings and Lord of lords is rendered less than a Man in the eyes and practice of these priests and their officers.  So, we see in this pattern of an evil time what that looks like in terms of its upside-down qualities.  There will be more to come, some striking and astonishing.  But let us consider what it is to be punished for telling the truth, blamed as the worst form of liar when one is in fact innocent, and perhaps we should say The Innocent of innocents, for it is only Christ whom we consider to have been entirely sinless.  But our King of kings and Lord of lords condescends even to this in His love for us, and His saving ministry.  In this we know the greatest beauty of them all, the divine love of God for us which teaches us what it is to love and suffer all manner of humiliation for the beloved.  He is indeed the Christ, the Son of Blessed who has blessed us all through His depth of love for us and fulfilled in all ways the title He bears.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?"

 

 And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.  But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest's courtyard.  And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.  Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the councils sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none.  Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none.  But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.'"  And the high priest arose and said to Him, "Do You answer nothing?  What is it these men testify against You?"  But Jesus kept silent.  And the high priest answered and said to Him, "I put You under oath by the living God:  Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!"  Jesus said to him, "It is as you said.  Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."  Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy!  What further need do we have of witnesses?  Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!  What do you think?"  They answered and said, "He is deserving of death."  Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ!  Who is the one who struck You?"

 

- Matthew 26:57-68 

 

Yesterday we read that while Jesus was still speaking to His disciples in the garden of Gethsemane, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.  Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him."  Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed Him.  But Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?"  Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.  And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.  But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.  Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?  How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?"  In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me?  I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me.  But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled."  Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.

 

  And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.  But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest's courtyard.  And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.  Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the councils sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none.  Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none.  But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.'"  My study Bible explains that the people misunderstand the Lord's words which are reported in John 2:19-21.  It notes that some Jews believed that the temple would be destroyed and a new one built by the Messiah.  

 And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.  But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest's courtyard.  And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.  Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the councils sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none.  Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none.  But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.'"  And the high priest arose and said to Him, "Do You answer nothing?  What is it these men testify against You?"  But Jesus kept silent.  And the high priest answered and said to Him, "I put You under oath by the living God:  Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!"  Jesus said to him, "It is as you said.  Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."  Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy!  What further need do we have of witnesses?  Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!  What do you think?"  They answered and said, "He is deserving of death."  Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ!  Who is the one who struck You?"   Here Jesus quotes from Psalm 110 and Daniel 7:13.  In so doing, He confesses that He is the Messiah; that is fully Man and fully God.  My study Bible explains that this is so, because only a divine One could sit at the right hand of the Power, sharing authority with the Father.  This statement, it notes, was clearly understood by the high priest to be a claim of equality with God the Father.  For a mere human being to claim this was punishable by death (Leviticus 24:16).  But Christ is not a mere human being only, and therefore His declaration of equality is not blasphemy.  

It's interesting that, as my study Bible notes, the high priest understands clearly what Christ is saying, that He has claimed equality with God the Father.  These educated men, steeped in the Scriptures, understand this implication from Christ.  But their conclusion is the opposite of the truth, the foundational reality of Christ's assertion is dismissed out of hand.  He must be a blasphemer.  It asks the question of us, what is it that can mislead highly intelligent and educated people to a conclusion antithetical to truth?  Of course, for those who are faithful to Christ and embrace His teachings, this truth about Him is a given.  We who have struggled with our faith, and come to know Christ -- and to continue to grow in our communion with Him -- have found this truth to be so.  It is, indeed, at least as experiential (if not more so) as it is an intellectual or other type of process.  So what is missing from the mind and heart of the high priest that He can draw this conclusion, that Christ is simply a blasphemer?  Has He missed Christ's own devotion to the Scriptures and to God?  Has Christ behaved like a person who has no contact with reality?  Is He out of His mind?  Does Christ have an army He's prepared to use to fight the powers that be, or does He even use some kind of worldly authority to do so?  No, Christ doesn't come with any of that, nor does He claim such authority.  But He is armed with His gospel, He is armed with His truth, and He doesn't make apologies for it.  Sometimes that is enough to render a person an object of abject hatred and outrage.  Of course, in the next chapter, St. Matthew tells us that Pilate, another man of worldly power, understands the leaders of the Sanhedrin well.  Pilate will know that these leaders hand Jesus over to him because of envy (Matthew 27:19).  It's worth asking ourselves why intelligent and educated men -- those responsible for the spiritual welfare of Israel -- can still make such a colossal error in terms of discerning the truth about Jesus, because as the Gospels always do, it's an opportunity to learn for ourselves.  It's an opportunity to think about how and why we -- as perhaps intelligent, educated, and capable people -- might make the same kind of error, indulge in the same kind of blindness, and incur the same condemnation.  Because these men know better, because they are violating their own rules of procedure by having a night trial, because the witnesses fail to confirm any wrongdoing, we can only conclude that this is a deliberate blindness.  The protection of their own positions is no doubt dearest in their hearts above all else.  What we find is a repeated failure to put the love of God first.  There isn't a concern for fairness or justice or righteousness; only a concern to rid themselves of a threat to their places, and One who has the favor of the people.  But all of this included in the Gospels gives us things to ponder as we are to check our own tendencies to confirm our own biases, or take refuge in a blind self-righteousness.  They are a cautionary tale, as our own assurance of righteousness based on position or appearance, rather than substance, can mislead us badly.  If we aren't to be like these men, we must always be awake and alert to our own tendencies to find justification for selfish and unjust behavior.  John's Gospel tells us that "even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12:42-43).  Humility and love of God go hand in hand, and to check the state of our own hearts means emphasizing these two things; it's what our faith is all about, and what is missing from these men.  For Who stands before them and what they are doing they cannot truly see, because they choose not to.  It's our self-chosen blindness that may lead to our greatest blunders.  From that point of condemnation, they debase themselves even more with their behavior:  Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ!  Who is the one who struck You?"  

 

 

I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven

 

 And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were assembled all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes.  But Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest.  And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire.  Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none.  For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree.  Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying, "We heard Him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.'"  But not even then did their testimony agree.  And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, "Do You answer nothing?  What is it these men testify against You?"  But He kept silent and answered nothing.  Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?"  Jesus said, "I am.  And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."  Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "What further need do we have of witnesses?  You have heard the blasphemy!  What do you think?"  And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.  Then some began to spit on Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, "Prophesy!"  And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands. 

 

- Mark 14:53–65 

 

On Saturday we read that, immediately, while Jesus was still speaking to the disciples in Gethsemane, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.  Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him and lead Him away safely."  As soon as he had come, immediately he went up to Him and said to Him, "Rabbi, Rabbi!" and kissed Him.  Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him.  And one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.  Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me?  I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me.  But the Scriptures must be fulfilled."  Then they all forsook Him and fled.  Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body.  And the young men laid hold of him, and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.

 

  And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were assembled all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes.  But Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest.  And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire.  Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none.  For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree.  Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying, "We heard Him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.'"  But not even then did their testimony agree.  And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, "Do You answer nothing?  What is it these men testify against You?"  But He kept silent and answered nothing.   It is a rigged game, a kangaroo court of sorts, in which Jesus finds Himself at this night trial.  They violate all the laws they are sworn to uphold, the very fabric of their positions as religious leaders they violate themselves.  Instead there are many who bear false witness against Jesus, made all the more obvious as their testimonies did not agree.  Just as He will do later on with Pilate, Jesus kept silent (Mark 15:1-5).  

Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?"  Jesus said, "I am.  And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."  Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "What further need do we have of witnesses?  You have heard the blasphemy!  What do you think?"  And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.  Then some began to spit on Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, "Prophesy!"  And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands.  Jesus answers to the high priest in the affirmative, saying, "I am."  In Greek, this statement is ego eimi/ἐγώ εἰμι.  This is the divine name of God, the first words of the divine Name for God given to Moses in Exodus 3:14, as written in the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament Scriptures, produced in the 3rd century BC.   (In fact, when Jesus quotes from the Scriptures, the quotes are from the Septuagint.)   Christ's use of the Name indicates a theophany, which means a revelation of God by God.  The use of this Name by a mere man was considered blasphemy, my study Bible explains, and was punishable by death (Leviticus 24:16; see John 8:58).  But, because Jesus is fully God, His use of the name cannot be blasphemy.  Instead, it reveals His unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit.  My study Bible also adds that it is only in Mark's account that Jesus' answer is so direct.  To sit at the right hand of the Power means to share authority with the Father.   As we can see by his outraged response, and the subsequent abusive actions of the council and the officers, this statement is clearly understood by the high priest to be a claim of equality with God.  

Why does Jesus answer nothing when He's being accused by false witnesses?   We can imagine that it is simply not worthy of Him to reply to the lies of those who would do such a thing in the first place.  And it becomes clear that all their testimonies simply contradict one another, and so reflect and reveal the lies.  He does not even respond to the high priest when he asks Him, "Do You answer nothing?  What is it these men testify against You?"   But when the high priest asks Him directly, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?"  Jesus chooses to respond fully and clearly, "I am.  And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."   Let's make note that this is also a prophecy, because it is a foretelling to the high priest about the end times, and the time of Christ's Second Coming, when all will see at the Judgment what Christ reveals here.  In that context, first of all, we can presume that Christ speaks yet again as a sort of a final warning for the high priest to consider what he does.  He is putting the Lord of lords on trial, the One who will be the ultimate Judge he is judging falsely, and the high priest will no doubt understand what that indicates for him.  The various false witnesses, no doubt procured and paid for, are not in the position of the high priest; they are not religious experts, they are not in high positions, they are no doubt marginal people who will say and do anything for money.  But the high priest occupies an office of power and the highest honor in the religious establishment, and presides over the most educated religious body of the society; he speaks for the Council.  There can be no misunderstanding here, either of what Jesus is saying or of what a false judgment portends if Jesus is truly who He says He is.  In this context, the response of the high priest becomes more shocking, and with that we include the actions of members of the Council (as Mark reports these events) as well as the officers.  As with Jesus' arrest by paid mercenaries, which also included Romans, everything goes from bad to worse.  It is a noteworthy description of times of evil, in which actions that take place become shocking in their unexpected extremism; that is, things take place which one could not anticipate for their unthinkable nature.  It is a true testimony to the fact that our Lord has experienced all the things that we do in this world.  Even our most humiliating and shameful experiences, the unexpected baseness of evil acts, is now an experience of our Creator.  One may well wonder why this is so, but I would propose that there are a number of reasons we can consider, and likely many more that I am not aware of.  First of all, there is the experience of the Creator out of great love for us, to share our lives, and in particular the very worst of our lives.  From now and throughout history, we can be assured that we have a Savior, both human and divine, who knows our every pain and torture and torment in life.  He knows what it is to be humiliated and debased as a human being, treated with contempt.  Secondly, not only has God chosen to experience even the worst of what we experience, but in and of itself, this life of Christ tells us how much we are loved.  For the one and only reason God would share our pain is out of sheer love for us.  We can look at His suffering, and it must tell us how truly we are loved, even when we feel unloved or there is no love to be found among friends and others whom we know.  In addition, there is a reason why the most innocent among us suffers, why even divinity suffers, and it makes a difference to the reality of the entire cosmos.  Just as Jesus proclaims to the high priest that he will see Christ sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven, so it is understood that this Man so ill-treated and convicted unjustly is the ultimate Judge, and there is no doubt that this is what Christ is proclaiming.  What it means is that the evil in the world will be absolutely judged, because the Judge is the ultimate Witness.  He is the Faithful and True Witness (Revelation 3:14).   It is Christ's testimony itself that will condemn the evil in the world, and the prince or ruler of this world responsible for such hatred of the good, the true, and the beautiful which is embodied in Christ.   This one Witness provides all that is needed to liberate us, even from the last enemy, death (1 Corinthians 15:20, 26).  Finally, through His suffering, Christ gives a meaning to our suffering, for He invites us in to join Him in His mission and work through the Church.  This mission involves struggle of which St. Paul has said, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).  We may share in the work of holiness, which turns us also into witnesses, those who may give testimony in the deepest and truest struggle for the world and for the life of the world.  Let us turn to Him for He suffers for us and does not turn away.

 

 

Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?

 And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.  But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest's courtyard.  And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.  Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none.  Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none.  But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.'"  And the high priest arose and said to Him, "Do You answer nothing?  What is it these men testify against You?"  But Jesus kept silent.  And the high priest answered and said to Him, "I put You under oath by the living God:  Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!"  Jesus said to him, "It is as you said.  Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."  Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy!  What further need do we have of witnesses?  Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!  What do you think?"  They answered and said, "He is deserving of death."  Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ!  Who is the one who struck You?"

- Matthew 26:57-68

Yesterday we read that while Jesus was still speaking to His disciples in the garden of Gethsemane, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.  Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him."  Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed Him.  But Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?"  Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.  And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.  But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.  Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?  How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?"  In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me?  I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me.  But all this was done so that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled."  Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.

 And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.  But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest's courtyard.  And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.  Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none.  Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none.  But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.'"  And the high priest arose and said to Him, "Do You answer nothing?  What is it these men testify against You?"  But Jesus kept silent.  We note Peter's native courage; he at least followed Him at a distance to the high priest's courtyard.  My study bible comments that the people misunderstand Christ's words as reported in John 2:19-21.  There were some Jews who believed that the temple would be destroyed and a new one built by the Messiah.  What is indicated by Jesus' silence?  Most likely He understands the closed minds and hardened hearts of this court and these witnesses; none are interested in His truth.

And the high priest answered and said to Him, "I put You under oath by the living God:  Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!"  Jesus said to him, "It is as you said.  Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."  Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy!  What further need do we have of witnesses?  Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!  What do you think?"  They answered and said, "He is deserving of death."  Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ!  Who is the one who struck You?"  Jesus responds to the command of the high priest, putting Him under oath by the living God.  Although He knows these men do not act in good faith, His respect for the institution of the high priest has always been consistent.  He quotes from Psalm 110 and Daniel 7:13, and confesses that He is the Messiah;  that is, He is both fully Man and fully God.  Only a divine One could sit at the right hand of the Power, and share authority with the Father.  My study bible says that this statement was clearly understood by the high priest to be a claim of equality with God the Father.   For a mere human being to claim this was punishable by death (Leviticus 24:16).  Christ, however, is both human and divine, and therefore this declaration of equality is not blasphemy.  Let us note the deterioration of propriety in this court, against their own Law, set first by the example of the high priest.  According to Leviticus 21:10 it is a violation of the Law for a high priest to tear his clothing (a common response to blasphemy against God).  It's an indication in the text of the open rage at work here, and the lack of honor for the office.  The mocking of gifts of prophesy and deliberate humiliation and abuse of Jesus tells us all we need to know about this court's (and their officers') respect for the things of God.

I'm always struck by the humiliating and abusive behavior in the court, and in particular toward Jesus after sentencing.  It seems somehow exceptionally blasphemous in and of itself.  Even if there were sincerity in the pronunciation of the verdict of blasphemy, to ridicule by using terms of prophesy seems particularly odious for members or officers of a court established through Mosaic Law to preserve a spiritual heritage based in prophesy.  St. Chrysostom has an extensive comment on the inclusion of these particular acts of humiliation against Jesus.  He comments with admiration on the self-restraint (in contrast to the high priest) of the disciples who carefully preserved every detail in the Gospel, and says that it clearly shows their disposition to love the truth.  He writes, "They relate with all truthfulness the things that seem to be opprobrious. They disguise nothing. They are not ashamed of anything. Rather, they account it as a very great glory, as indeed it was, that the Lord of the universe should endure to suffer such things for us. This shows both his unutterable tenderness and the inexcusable wickedness of those men who had the heart to do such things to Him that was so mild and meek."  What this does for us is several things, among which is a teaching about injustice and bullying.  If, as His followers, we are to see in Him in the face of others, then how do we see any such circumstance, in which a "mild and meek" person is treated brutally?  What do we observe if the holy things, such as prophesy, are used or abused in the service of such behavior, even to denounce one who is supposedly blasphemous?  What are we to see where forms of brutality and violence rule, even supposedly in the nominal service to what is holy?  Christ goes there for us and asks us to watch; His disciples shy away from reporting none of the humiliating details of what He voluntarily endured.  The great and transcendent truth here is that the world, regardless of its harsh treatment, cannot be the judge of our worth.  That judgment belongs only to the One who underwent this humiliation, who stands in our place and takes on all the worst that the world can offer.  Injustice is illuminated here, the doors are thrown wide open for us to observe and understand what sin really is, what giving full vent to rage and envy and selfishness can mean.  Our Lord has taken on this part to show us the truth.  Let us have the courage to follow His lead and see for ourselves this reality, living as He asks us to live and not turning a blind eye to His love that teaches us to do so.  For this is how we live the Kingdom even in this world.