Matthew 26:57-68

Jesus Answers Questions for the High Priest, Caiaphas

58 But Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the officers to see the outcome.

59 Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death.

60 They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on two came forward,

61 and said, "This man stated, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.'"

62 The high priest stood up and said to Him, "Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?"

63 But Jesus kept silent And the high priest said to Him, "I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God."

64 Jesus said to him, "You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN."

65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy;

66 what do you think?" They answered, "He deserves death!"

67 Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him,

68 and said, "Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?"

Caiaphas, the High Priest, Questions Jesus

 Did Jesus say He would destroy the temple as the witnesses boasted? No. He said "destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days." This statement was an allusion to Christ's own death which was to come as His mortal body was destroyed and He rose on the third day.

But, the final straw was drawn in the statement;

"You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN."

The high priests knew exactly what He meant with these words. Jesus was proclaiming to be the Messiah even though His stating the fact meant certain death. Jesus was not there to defend Himself but to fulfill His destiny.

What was the destiny of Christ? To suffer and die on the cross, take on the sins of mankind and to rise again so that our sins could be forgiven and forgotten.

Those religious leaders never stopped to consider whether or not Jesus spoke the truth. They were too busy thinking about the money and power He was taking away from them by gathering followers.

As we discussed in other lessons, the only unpardonable sin is the one of rejecting God.

The leaders chose to do just that; rejecting Christ thus sealing their fate. How about us? How will our decision today affect the rest of our lives and our souls in the eternal timeline?

Christ died so that we might live.

The hope and good news for us is that, all we have to do is believe and to ask forgiveness. The only thing that can stop us from receiving everlasting life is pride. Let's humble ourselves before God so He can give us the gift He promised.

Love in Christ

- Bob

 Another Baptist Bible Study Lesson

Matthew 26:47-56 - Judas Betrays Jesus and He is Arrested - After praying in the garden, the fulfillment of Scripture was happening quickly as Judas betrays Jesus and He is arrested. The disciples, who swore allegiance, ran and went into hiding while Christ suffered.