The representatives of the Jews met to take legal action and render a decision against Jesus in hatred and envy. Most of them were determined to consume the young Nazarene, for he had disturbed the nation according to their claim, and they were afraid of the interference of the Roman authority, and the new war.
However, in order to hide their grudge, they treated him with external observances of lawfulness, and sought sly witnesses to prove that Jesus was wrong according to the Law, blasphemer, and deceiver. But the hired wicked witnesses could not bring agreeing evidences against him, and therefore the claim became null and void due to disagreement of the sayings of witnesses in their full details.
Furthermore, the last testimony was false and groundless with respect to Christ’s words about the temple, for he had never said, “I will destroy this temple”, but “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19) meaning the temple of his body and his own resurrection.
The Jews quarreled about his words and their interpretations. They did not recognize the heart of the subject: that Jesus Christ who stood amidst them was the living temple of God in whom dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
Jesus kept completely silent before the lies of men, trusting that his Father would not give him up to the cross because of stupid lies, but in expression of his love for the sinners. The members of the council were disturbed at his silence. Yet, Jesus did not fear his enemies around him, but gave himself up completely to the guidance of his faithful Father.
When the interrogation came to failure, Caiaphas the high priest stood up, and put Jesus under oath to confess whether he was the Messiah, the Son of the living God. In his question, he connected both titles to confirm an accusation against Jesus, which might guarantee his death, for the Jews expected a strong christ supported by the power of God, and not one who stands chained and despised in the midst of the trial.
The priests and representatives regarded any claim of being the son of God as terrible blasphemy, for God is one, who has no other partner, who dwells in glory and heavenly light.
He stood up before the council of his nation and answered them, who were experts in the Law, with one decisive statement clarifying to them who he was, what he worked, and how his future would be. This wide and inclusive answer is one of the greatest words of the Holy Bible, so study it, and keep it in your heart.
Christ did not deny his true essence in order to rescue himself with lies, but said: “I am”. This statement is the support of the old covenant, and the foundation of the new covenant. With this statement, the Lord commanded in the Ten Commandments, saying: “I am”, and he manifested himself in the burning bush in the wilderness. In the same manner, Christ called himself several times in the gospel of John: “I am”. Christ did not only call himself the Son of God, but he also clarified saying that God himself dwelt in him, though he was standing chained in the midst of the elders who were attacked by the surprise.
Jesus knew that his confession meant his certain death. But he observed more than this. He saw the heaven opened, and he proclaimed his own resurrection beforehand, with his ascension and arriving at his Father, and sitting at his right hand, in the place of glory, for he alone had saved men. Sitting at the right hand of God was preserved for Christ, according to the promise: “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’” (Psalms 110:1).
With this statement, Jesus told the seventy elders before him that they had no right to condemn him, but on the contrary, God would make them footstool for resting Jesus’ feet on them. With another revelation from (Daniel 7:13) the Nazarene young man testified to his educated judges that he is in fact the eternal Judge, calling himself the Son of Man who is coming with the clouds of heaven to judge the living and the dead.
Every Israeli knew the meaning of those two verses, which Christ joined together in one statement to confess his being the Messiah before the council of the Jews. With these brief, profound words, he proved his being the Son of the living God, the true Christ, the eternal Judge, and the Lord himself. The audience had to worship to him immediately, and to receive him with shouts, submission, and songs of praise.
Therefore, the leaders of Israel had either to submit to Jesus immediately, or to sentence him to death. They charged him with blasphemy, sentenced him to death, and beat him publicly as an indication that they were not partners in this blasphemy, lest the wrath of God would come on them.
The meek Lamb of God stood silently before them. He bore the rage and hatred without saying any word. Men in their disobedience slapped the Son of God. What is your position? Do you worship to him and love him, or do you refuse him and participate in his crucifixion?