Jesus on trial (There will come a day)

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As we approach the cross, we are in dark and dingy waters; it all looks so corrupt and wicked. The plotting and conniving that go on make us wonder if Jesus has been caught in a trap.

Betrayed by Judas with a kiss, Jesus is arrested and deserted by his close friends; yet he recognises that all this took place so that - 54, the Scriptures fulfilled, 56 the writings of the prophets fulfilled.

We find him in our section before the Jewish high priest, Caiaphas, 57 and the teachers of the law and elders – the theologians/scholars of the day. Peter followed at a distance; to watch the action.

With the Jewish leaders and their murderous motives present, the evidence they require is hard to find, 59f. False witnesses, however, are two-a-denarius. Then 2 appear, quoting what this fellow said: 61 I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days. This is a ref. from Jesus’ visit to the temple courts in Jn 2. It’s used in mockery on the cross, 27:38 – we’ll look at this in a couple of week’s time

The High Priest calls on Jesus to refute what they had said ..but he remained silent, 63, as Isaiah had prophesied. Jesus would be like a silent lamb on his way to slaughter, Is 53:7 – he did not open his mouth, as a sheep before her shearers is silent, he did not open his mouth. So the High Priest charges him under oath to say whether he is the Messiah, the Son of God; this is his final weapon to check out Jesus – will he answer under oath and incriminate himself? And Jesus speaks up, 64.

Now this whole episode, going through the night, finding false witnesses, is a sordid manoeuver by the priests to secure Jesus’ death. But Matthew records it, I suggest, to highlight an outstanding declaration.

This says Don Carson is Jesus’ climactic self-disclosure to the authorities and it combines revelation with threat. We’ll examine Jesus response to the High Priest in 64.

Look how Jesus puts it: 64: Yes, it is as you say. He is telling the High Priest it is just as he has said. Jesus openly admits he is Messiah, although he hasn’t specifically used that word – the High Priest said it. And also that Jesus was the Son of God. Jesus concurs, and then he adds what is nothing less than outrageous

But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.

Jesus has now openly made a statement which is earth shattering. These words tell the High Priest and all the Jewish leaders .. and us also .. that our whole future hangs on this. This is far more important than whether you are overspent on your credit cards, or you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, or there is no apparent solution to world peace. What Jesus says here deals with THE most important issue ever.

Jesus says that 4 things are going to be reversed. The High priest will see these, and so will all of us.

You will see the Son of Man

As far as the High priest was concerned, he could not see this. He was blind to this truth. In his short-sightedness he was asking whether Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, but actually he didn’t really believe it. By the way – I wonder whether you really believe this? At the present moment the High Priest could not – or maybe WOULD NOT see this. But says Jesus, in the future you will see the Son of Man.

This is a term used in Daniel 7 about his great vision. Turn to Dan 7:13f P. 626. Coming along with the clouds of heaven Daniel sees one like a son of man. He approaches the Ancient of Days – ie God – and is led into his presence. Here he is given authority, glory and sovereign power so that all peoples, nations and men of every language worship him. He has a rule which lasts for ever, ie an eternal kingdom . Who is this Son of Man? It must be our Lord Jesus. That’s who he is.

The High Priest and his fellow leaders may deny that Jesus is this Messianic One, but they – and we – will see it is so. They refuse to acknowledge him as the Christ they really know; they may think he has no kingdom, no glory, no power, while he suffers. But YOU WILL SEE says Jesus. After all, you have said so. There will come a day when you will see the Son of Man. That’s the 1st reversal.

You will see the Son of Man ..sitting

In their willful blindness they may think that Jesus is on trial. Jesus says: You think you are here to Judge me; and I stand before you as the defendant. But let me tell you that you will see the Son of Man sitting.

Maybe that doesn’t mean much to you, but in many cultures, including the Middle East today, teachers sit, and pupils stand to speak. Rulers sit on thrones, and the accused stand. In the Royal court the sovereign is on the throne, usually with an elbow on the arm of the chair, and the others are all standing. Even in our opening of Parliament, the Queen sits on the throne, and others stand.

 

While Jesus was being tried, he was kept standing; after all he was the accused. In these mockery of trials, he is charged and found guilty then sentenced to death – though the truth is he never said or did anything wrong; he was innocent of all crime. But .. he tells Mr High Priest .. a day is coming when he will be seated; he will no longer be the defendant, he will be the judge. Matthew has already recorded Jesus saying this – see 25:31f. All nations, including Mr High Priest – and you and me - will be before him.

So, says Jesus, although I stand in the dock today, there will come a day when I will be sitting in the seat of Judge of all the earth. YOU WILL SEE says Jesus. After all, you have said so. That’s the 2nd reversal. Final judgement is with Jesus.

You will see the Son of Man ..at the right hand of the Mighty One

In your foolish blindness, Jesus says to the high priest and his so-called court, you say that I am a blasphemer. You say I am guilty of treason, and that I have dishonoured God by my claim. But I tell you that you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One.

Power will no longer be in your hands, Mr HP, but in the hands of God. You may think that God has his foot on my neck, that I am under judgement because God is angry at me. But there will come a day when I will sit, not only in his presence but in the place of highest honour – the place of power – at the right hand of the Almighty.

YOU WILL SEE. After all, you have said so. Here is the 3rd reversal. Final power is with God

You will see the Son of Man ..coming on the clouds of heaven

Finally, says Jesus, in your almost total blindness you say that I am about to be killed. You want to do away with me, to sentence me to death, so as to make an end of me. But I say to you, Things are not as they seem. You will not make an end of me; rather you will see the Son of Man alive and coming on the clouds of heaven.

Jesus is telling the top man that he really knew what was meant when temple destruction was prophesied and in three days Jesus will rebuild it, 61. Not only will he rise from the dead, but he will reign in heaven at the right hand of God. And not only will he reign, but he’ll come again on the clouds with great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call and they will gather his elect from one end of heaven to the other. And Mr Most Important Priest, you and all your court, will see this

There will come a day when you will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven. YOU WILL SEE. After all, you have said so. Here then is the 4th reversal.

God has placed an enormous amount of truth and reality in our hearts; we have a deep cry for justice, a deep sense that if Jesus were to stand visibly before us and we were to ask:

Jesus, are you really the promised Messiah, the Son of God the Son of Man the Ruler of the Universe, the Judge of all the earth, before whom everyone one of us on this planet must bow and give account

He would answer us: Yes, it is as you say – you have said so. We do not need more proof; we need to give every part of ourselves to what we already know. Whatever things might look like now, there will come a day when there will be great reversals. So own up to what you already know.

Do you ever talk to your children about Jesus and judgement day? I came across this superb children’s song about judgement, and thought you’d like to hear it. Song : There will come a day (on screen)

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Prayer: Heavenly Father, we find your Son Jesus to be the bravest man on earth; to have the courage to turn the tables on the High Priest, and yet go submissively and silently to the cross is outstanding. How brilliantly controlled he was and how clear he made himself takes our breath away. Truly you sent your son to save and redeem the world. Put us on the right side of yourself we pray, so that we may long for the day when we see the son of Man on the clouds, and enjoy standing before him.

Clothe us this morning in our right minds so that when the day arrives we will be ready and waiting.

May your name be blazed around the world, even before its seen in the clouds. Help us to truly proclaim the good news to our broken world, because you have already repaired us. Do an eternal work in our hearts and minds we pray, which may ripple its way through our friends and family, for your glory is at stake. Amen

 

Questions for House Groups

Jesus on trial – Matt. 26:57-68

Was it just money that drove Judas to betray Jesus? How can we make sure we are not silent betrayers?

Why do you think Peter followed at a distance? Why did he not run away with the others? Would you say Peter thought he was braver than he really was? In what ways do we try and feign courage?

What was it that made the Jewish leaders so angry and furious with Jesus? What had he done to offend them? In what ways does Jesus sometimes "anger" us? Why do you think we are sometimes unwilling to learn from him and let him lead us?

Examine v. 64. Why does Jesus say to the high Priest, Yes, it is as you say? What are the key elements he is trying to bring out to the Jewish leaders? What do these different aspects of his character and action mean for us:

a. He is the Son of Man

b. He is the Son of man .. sitting

c. He is the Son of Man ..at the right hand of the Mighty One

d. He is the son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven

For those of us who know Jesus personally, and recognise he is the Messiah, how do these truths help us live our lives differently having read them? What aspects of Jesus do we need to explain to our friends?

Pray together over the ways you get mocked as a believer, and how you can/should deal with it

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