(1) The changing climax of this passage
Part 1
However, the high priest did not want to let Jesus go and asked a crucial question. Jesus did not avoid that and answered "yes." If Jesus had not given any proof of miracles He was blasphemy, but He did plenty of miracles. Those are good support of His divinity.
14:54 And Peter had followed him from a distance, up to the high priest’s courtyard. He was sitting with the guards and warming himself by the fire.
(NET) The guards would have been the guards of the chief priests who had accompanied Judas to arrest Jesus.
(NET) The guards would have been the guards of the chief priests who had accompanied Judas to arrest Jesus.
14:55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death
Although Peter was afraid he still followed Jesus in a distant. He might have afraid others might recognized him. He chose to sit with the guards of the chief priest probably just because of the warmth of the fire. However, it was dangerous. Jesus was in a even more dangerous situation because His enemies were going to put Him to death.
Part 2
From v.55b-59, they could not find any evidence to charge Jesus because their testimony was false and therefore did not agree with each other. In other words, even His enemies wanted to put Jesus to death there was still a requirement to have enough evidence to do so. With that, Jesus was safe.
Part 3
v.61b Again the high priest questioned him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”14:62 “I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
sitting at the right hand = This is a claim that Jesus shares authority with God in heaven. Those present may have thought they were his judges, but, in fact, the reverse was true.
the Power=God
Coming with the clouds of heaven=One day Jesus would return and be the glorious King of the Kingdom of God.
14:64 You have heard the blasphemy! What is your verdict?” They all condemned him as deserving death.
However, the high priest did not want to let Jesus go and asked a crucial question. Jesus did not avoid that and answered "yes." If Jesus had not given any proof of miracles He was blasphemy, but He did plenty of miracles. Those are good support of His divinity.
(2) Summary: According to our human's perspective, we want the story ends in Part 2. We want them to find no evidence and release Jesus, but the reality was not. Jesus admitted that He was the Messiah, but He also reminded them that He was the King. As a result, He was put to death. In other words, He chose to follow the plan of God and die for the world.
(3) Reflection: Will we chose to be safe? Or we chose to follow God even though it may not be safe? I know some people whom God choose to live in the inner city and share the Gospel with the neighbors. It is certainly not a safe choice, but they live according to what God wants them to. Maybe we are not that brave, but are we willing to take some risks in our lives? Or are willing to love ourselves less and love God more?
Audrey
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