59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.
Finally two came forward 61 and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”
62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent.
The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
64 “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “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.”
It’s difficult to find evil in the lives of the innocent is it not – particularly, in the God/Man’s case – the only One totally perfect in purity and innocence! The purpose of Jesus’ trials by the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin was to discover something they could pin on Him – something they could nail Him with - something that would justify their depraved actions – something that would be worthy of His death. They were furiously looking for cases of blasphemy and false doctrine to prove against Him. Funny, the harder they looked the less they found. Interestingly, they seized Him, bound Him and abused Him and THEN sought to find a charge against Him. The law demanded they must have two witnesses to agree on their evidences to safeguard against false testimony:
15 One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. Deut 19:15 (NIV)
Judas would have been the perfect candidate for the job yet he was far too busy being pierced to the core in his spirits for betraying innocent blood. His testimony was crucial to these feigned religious elite therefore in his absence they sought to strum up some other false witnesses. How low sinners go to get their way.
“We make our choices and then our choices make us. Our everyday choices reveal what we really desire. The essence of sin is pride. The heart of sin is independence and the core of sin is demanding my own way instead of God's.” Pat Singleterry
I am also reminded of Daniel when the king had planned to set him over the whole kingdom and how others - blinded by jealousy to be sure - sought to discover wrongdoing in his upright life yet to no avail:
4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Dan 6:4 (NIV)
Ah, yes, as Scripture states, wisdom is indeed proved right by her actions. At long last, these chief priests and Sanhedrin met with two witnesses that seemed to agree with each other’s testimonies. The words they swore against the Master were that He claimed ability to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days. Jesus, of course, was speaking figuratively of His body – His earthly temple – not the actual temple building (although He can do whatever He pleases as nothing is too hard for Him!). The religious elite grabbed hold of these words and used them against Him as one who was after the temple’s destruction or as one who perhaps delved into some sort of witchcraft or occult. They had prior accused Him of being demonically possessed. They sought to distort the meaning of the Lord’s Words and use them against Him. Surely, if our Master received such wrongful treatment from sinful men we should not be surprised if we are treated in like manner. John records His Words:
18 Then the Jews demanded of him, “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” 20 The Jews replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. John 2:18-22 (NIV)
Jesus does not respond to their warped accusations – both amazing the court and incensing them - rather He remained silent fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy:
7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. Isaiah 53:7 (NIV)
This, of course, infuriated the high priest who then asks our Lord on oath – point blank – if He was the Christ, the Son of God. At this Jesus gives the clear affirmative confessing to be the Christ and referring to His second coming. It is as if He were stating now you see me in this low and humble state but the day is fast approaching when I will appear anything but lowly in all eyes rather in awesome majesty.
7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen. Rev 1:7 (NIV)