Luke 22:70-71

Here we have the Truth proclaiming the truth that He indeed was the Son of God. Unwilling to believe the testimony of the Scriptures which pointed to Jesus as the Christ – refusing to come to Him for their salvation, these religious leaders of the Jewish people cried out ”Blasphemy!” and wanted Him dead. Jesus had earlier addressed them regarding this very issue. We find in John:

39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life. John 5:39-40 (NIV)

Not only did these leaders disregard or just plain miss the proofs of the Scriptures they also refused to believe the messianic miracles He had performed:

36 "I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. John 5:36-38 (NIV)

11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. John 14:11 (NIV)

Jesus had already made claim that He was the Christ. This was no new info to them. We find in John:

30 I and the Father are one." 31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" 33 "We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” John 10:30-33 (NIV)

19 Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. 24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. 25 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. John 5:19-27 (NIV)

Unfortunately for these leaders and for those that followed in their path, they missed it. They refused to accept the abundantly clear signs pointing to Jesus as the Messiah:

“They cannot think it possible that he should be the Messiah, if he does not appear, as they expect, in worldly pomp and grandeur.” Matthew Henry

“Jesus was in the council, undertook our cause, struck hands in the covenant as our Surety, wrought out a righteousness for us; suffered our curse on the tree to redeem us; ever lives, and ever loves, and ever pleads our cause while he represents our persons before the everlastingly gracious and infinitely just and righteous Jehovah, his Father and our Father, now well pleased with us, because accepted and preserved in the Beloved. Are these things so? And has the Lord the Spirit, the glorifier of Jesus, enlightened our understanding to see these things, enabled us to believe, and assured our hearts of our own happy share and interest in them? O my soul, stop, reflect, dwell on such wonderful power, marvelous favour, distinguishing love, and appropriated mercy! Afflictions, pains, temptations, may await me, waves and storms may go over my head, Satan may sift me as wheat, the waters of death may prove bitter to my taste, yet I will not be discouraged; he that died for me will take care of me; he that pardoned my aggravated offences will heal my infirmities; he that knew the power of temptation will support and deliver me out of all. This I believe; Lord help my unbelief. The wisdom, the power, the love, the promise, the covenant, and the oath of Jehovah, stand all engaged for the preservation of a poor, unworthy believer in Jesus. Alleluia.” K. H. Von Bogatzky