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Pastor's Blog January 21, 2021

"Jesus Is the Son of God IV"

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We have seen several instances in the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus is identified as the Son of God.  What is fascinating, however, is that Jesus never proclaims himself as the Son of God.  In fact, when Jesus is questioned on whether or not he's the Son of God, he purposefully uses the words and actions of his questioners to prove that he is God's Son. 

The result of this interaction between Jesus and others is that they come to recognize him as the true Son of God.  But there's one place where this does not happen: his trial before the Sanhedrin.  After Jesus' arrest, Matthew 26 details Jesus' trial and the exchange between him and the high priest.  The chief priests and the Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony about Jesus, because there was no actual crime he had committed (verses 59-60). 

Eventually, two witnesses were able to produce pretty much the exact same "evidence," and therefore criminal charge: "This man stated, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days'" (verse 61).  Jesus, apparently, remained silent through the charges, because the high priest has to ask him why he keeps quiet in light of this witness testimony (verse 62).  But when Jesus still refuses to say anything, the high priest commands him to speak: "I place you under oath by the living God, to tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God" (verse 63). 

Some first century Jews thought the Messiah and the Son of God were two different people; the high priest, it seems, thought they were the same person.  You'd think this would be the perfect time for Jesus to speak up for himself and clarify who he is!  Here is a group of religious leaders who are explicitly confronting him on his divine identity.  They want Jesus to affirm or deny that he is the Son of God.  But Jesus refuses to do this; instead, he simply says, "You have said it yourself" (verse 64).  Jesus indicates that the priests and Sanhedrin already have enough evidence to determine that, in fact, Jesus truly IS the Son of God!  Unfortunately, they choose not to see this fact (verses 65-66). 

Friends, not everyone is able to see that Jesus is the Son of God, even when he's standing right in front of them.  Which is your experience: do you see that Jesus is the Son of God...or not?