Matthew 26

 Matthew 26:57-68  They had come with swords and clubs to seize the One who had sat teaching in the temple.. who stood alone, who acknowledged His identity.. Who offered no resistance.. who healed the servant's ear right there in their midst.. and they led Him to Caiaphas, the high priest. 

The council of scribes and elders had gathered.  Peter had quietly followed. The false witnesses had been brought in.. but none could testify of any deadly sins.  Then, two came and told of the statement that Jesus had made.. and even then they misquoted Him.. "This man stated, ' I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days."  What Jesus actually said was, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." ( John 2:19)  It was the answer to the Jews who wanted a sign.  John tells us clearly, "But He was speaking of the temple of His body." ( v21) He would not destroy the temple or Himself.. but they would kill Him and the temple would soon be destroyed anyway.

Even then, Jesus said nothing. But, when the high priest said, " I adjure You ( charge you under an oath),  by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God."  Then... Jesus answered to him, "You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."

Jesus mixed two Old Testament prophecies here.. Psalm 110:1 "The Lord says to my Lord; sit at My right hand until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet."  and Daniel 7: 13 "... and behold, with the clouds of heaven, One like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, Glory, and a kingdom.. " These passages testify to the position and authority of the Christ.. and Jesus is truthfully saying that this is speaking about Him...

The high priest reacted with total unbelief.. tearing his robe and accusing Jesus of blasphemy.. which holds the penalty of death. With (un)-righteous indignation the council unanimously pronounces the execution of the holy Son of God.  They unleashed the mob to punch and slap and spit on the innocent Lamb, who would willingly lay down His life for them in a few short hours. 

Father in heaven, be glorified!  Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of Man.. we long to see that day when You come "on the clouds of heaven" and forever reign!  As we think about the events on that day before the condemning council.. we wonder at their blindness and their hardness of heart.. how they could not see that the One they prayed and longed for.. had come.  But, we are thankful at the same time.. for what they did.. took You to the cross where our ransom was paid.. where are sins were atoned.. and where we were set free from the dominion of darkness.. so that we can look forward the Your eternal kingdom. Hallelujah! What a Savior! Spirit, lead us once again.. to Calvary.. "lest [we] forget Thine agony.. lest [we] forget Thine love for [us]." For it is in the Name of our great and precious Savior that we pray, Amen.