Jesus loved the foolish people. He went to the temple every day, rushing into the dangers of death, taught, and preached the multitudes that waited for him with interest. With this teaching, he established his hearers who began to believe in him and in his heavenly Father. His preaching was a piercing invitation to those who were far away from God to return to the heavenly Father, confess their sins, and become broken to their haughtiness. Jesus did not only preach the law, but also revealed to his hearers the good news of the love of God. He explained to them his own presence, and informed them about his triumph over sin so that hope, faith, and love might grow up in them. The multitudes felt that the dominion of God was present among them, and that the heaven was open, and the grace had appeared.
Yet, when the leaders of the people saw how the multitudes held fast to Jesus, they got ready to attack and take counsel together against him, willing to catch Jesus in their net. So the Sanhedrists met together to test Jesus and arrest him. We read here about "chief priests" in the plural, which indicates their breach of the law, which stipulated that only one priestly chief should be appointed. But the Sanhedrin in its continuous conflict with the occupying power yielded from time to time to its command dismissing some of the chiefs and appointing others according to its instructions, until both parties found their object in Caiaphas, the cunning fox, who matched by means of his religious opinions between the judgments of the law and the Roman desires which were contrary to the law. The Sanhedrin had the right to ask Jesus officially who he was, and where he came from. By these questions, they drove him to reveal himself openly, inquiring about the power working in him, and the source of this power. They did not ask him about his many works and miracles, nor did they scrutinize the meanings of his powerful words, but they pierced his innermost being, willing to cut him out of his source. If he said he was Christ, they would quickly destroy him, for the multitudes expected a fighting, political, victorious Christ with glory and might. If he denied he was Christ, and said he was just a prophet, a social reformer, or a preacher of repentance, then the people would leave him and not care for him. This is about the first question.
If he answered the second question about the source of his presence, that he is the Son of God, they would immediately stone him, for they believed that God had no son. And if he said that his authority was derived from natural sources, or from his own power, then they would tear him to pieces, considering him to he the devil himself.
Jesus saw their wicked trick, and caught them in the same net, which they prepared for him. He asked them, in his divine authority, a counter question, in return for theirs, about the source of John the Baptist; but they found themselves in the same condition in which they wanted to put him. So they conversed and consulted one another to no avail, and could not answer him. They were not willing, in their hard-heartedness, to repent and submit to Christ confessing that John was a servant of God, for he had asked them to confess their sins and be baptized openly, when they were laughing in their hearts at the poor repentant people, arrogating to themselves righteousness and exaltedness. Yet, the people, particularly after John was beheaded, were agitated and convinced that the Baptist was really God’s messenger and truthful prophet. They were prepared, in their rage, to stone even those religious leaders if they said that John the Baptist was not a saint of God.
While the leaders were at a loss, not agreeing unanimously on any one of the many answers they had in mind, the people waited for them to see what they would reply. None of the rulers was prepared to confess the truth that was hidden in his heart, neither negatively nor positively. In the end they hid themselves in their lies, saying: "We do not know where John the Baptist was from." This answer was Christ’s greatest victory over them, for Jesus led the Sanhedrists to confess their ignorance before the public. It was a horrible defeat.
The Son of God condemned their lying with his condemning word: "Neither will I tell you who I am, and where I came from. You know the truth, but you neither obey it, nor open your hearts to it. You try to turn truth into lying, and therefore you will be destroyed greatly. Go away and be ashamed of your repulsive craftiness, for the wisdom of the Spirit of God is more prudent than all the nets of your devilish lies. This is why, dear brother, you do not have to care about what you will say and reply when professing unbelievers call you to appear before their courts, for then the Holy Spirit will inspire you with the proper answer, if you submit yourself to his guidance at all times.