- Matthew 27:2 KJV
The star witness did not show. According to Jewish law, Judas who arranged for the arrest of the offender had to be the person to make the formal legal accusation. Because Judas realized he had betrayed innocent blood he did not arrive at the hastily arranged trials and the Sanhedrin lost valuable time trying to come up with witnesses to sustain their accusations. By not being at the trial Judas was actually testifying the opposite that Jesus was innocent.
Pilate, knowing Jesus was innocent tried to set Him free.
Jesus had remained silent before His accusers, and this astonished Pilate, and frustrated the high priest.
Suddenly in desperation Caiaphas turned on Jesus and demanded, “...I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.” (Matthew 26:63 KJV).
The form of the question put to Jesus was brilliant. If Caiaphas had asked if Jesus were the Messiah, it would not have been a capital offense.
Furthermore, concerning the question of being the Son of God Jesus earlier had quoted Psalm 82:6 KJV, “I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.” In the context God was calling the Jewish judges “gods,” therefore they could not accuse Him of blasphemy for calling Himself God’s Son. God was not speaking of a divine nature in man when He called them “gods” (Ex. 21:6; 22:8). Moreover, they called themselves “gods” because they were created in the image and likeness of God, and were His representatives. The point Jesus was making was if God calls human judges “gods” then why should they stone Him? He proved to the Jews that when He calls Himself the Son of God, He did not blaspheme God (Jn. 10:34-36). His whole life is done in the perfect will of the Father. Jesus uses the Psalm to contrast His divine sonship, prior to time, with theirs which began only in the present time.
However, the high priest so phrased his calculating question in such a way that He would have to respond to it. “I adjure You by the living God,” he asked Jesus, “that you tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.”
How did he know to ask that question? Judas had instructed him.
Now if Jesus answered, “Yes” to the statement it would be blasphemy to His accusers.
Jesus spoke up for the first time in the proceedings saying, “...Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” (Matt. 26:64 KJV). This is an affirmative reply in the original language. “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied (KJV). “...I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” (Mk. 14:62).
Then Jesus quoted the Old Testament prophet Daniel to give evidence to the declaration. “...Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven” (Matt. 26:64 KJV).
Jesus clarified for His judges the kind of Messiah and Son of God He was by quoting Daniel 7:13-14 KJV, “[13] I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. [14] And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”
Caiaphas got more than he wanted. He got a conviction from the lips of the accused, but he also got the powerful evidence that will one day convict Him before God’s great throne of justice. The day will come when Jesus will be the Judge of Caiaphas.
Jesus quoted a passage that will be fulfilled at His Second Coming (Matt. 24:30; 25:31; Rev. 11:15; Psa. 2:6-9; Phil. 2:11). The Son of Man will establish “an everlasting dominion.” His kingdom will never be conquered and will never come to an end. He will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords for all eternity (Matt. 24:30; Mk. 13:26; 14:62; Lk. 21:27; Rev. 1:7, 13; 14:14).
“[65] Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. [66] What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death” (Matt. 26:65-65 KJV).
The judges came to the right conclusion, but the wrong judgment. According to the testimony of the Jewish Scriptures Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of God.” But the judges refused to personally believe the evidence before them. They remained in their stubborn, willful unbelief. They were blind spiritually and dead in their trespasses and sins. A dark veil remained over their minds.
Jesus is the only legitimate Jewish Messiah. He is the King of righteousness (Isa. 32:1-10; Jer. 23:5-8; 30:8-9; 33:14-18); the Divine servant of Yahweh (Isa. 52:13-15); born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14; Lk. 1:26-30; Matt. 1:24-25); in the town of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Lk. 2:1-7); from the royal line of King David (2 Sam. 7:12-16; Isa. 11:1-23; Matt. 1:1-16; Lk. 3:23-37); performed the works of righteousness (Isa. 61:1-2; Lk. 4:16-21; Matt. 11:1-6); the coming Messiah Prince (Dan. 2, 7, 9, 12); entered Jerusalem as a king (Zech. 9:9; Matt. 21:1-11); betrayed by a friend (Psa. 41:9; Matt. 26:14-15; 27:3-8); the precious fountain opened (Zech. 13:1-7); the Messenger of the Covenant (Mal. 3:1); the Sun of Righteousness (Mal. 4:1), etc.
Jesus Christ is the only unique Son of God (Psa. 2:7; Isa. 9:6; 7:14; John 3:16). He is God with us (Isa. 7:14; John 1:14, 18; Lk. 1:35; Rev. 21:3; John 20:31). He is the child with many names (Isa. 9:1-6), and our blessed hope (11:1-12).
“Why do we need any more witnesses? . . . What do you think?” We, too, are in the same position as Caiaphas and his friends. What will you decide to do with Jesus based upon the facts from God’s Word? Just like Caiaphas your decision will determine your eternal destiny.
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