Day 34 | April 9

Arrested in the middle of the night. Taken before the High Priest, the chief priests, elders and the scribes to face an inquisition. Hearing the false testimony mounting against Him, Jesus raised no defense. It didn’t hurt that the false witnesses could not get their stories straight. Still, this illegal trial went forward.

Jesus’ unwillingness to respond raised the ire of the religious leaders. The High Priest even challenged Him at this point. “Do you answer nothing? What is it these men testify against you?”

Finally, the High Priest asks the one question on which they could condemn Jesus. “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” If Jesus answered yes, they could prosecute Him for blasphemy. If He answered no, they could accuse Him of lying to the people.

Knowing this, Jesus was bold in His answer. “I am.” The use of this phrase was equivalent to the name that God gave to Moses and was never spoken by the Jews for fear of taking the name in vain. Yet, Jesus spoke it openly and loudly for all to hear. And He went even further. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

While this answer was offensive to the High Priest and those with him, it is a promise of hope for all who believe in Jesus. He is God. He is the Son of the Blessed One. He is the One who has been seated at the right hand of the Power, the One who will judge all. He will be coming again in the same way He left the earth, in the clouds of heaven.

The High Priest and his companions were appalled at this answer. They chose to reject Him and serve as His judge. One day, they will meet Him again.

You, too, must make a choice. Will you reject Him as did the religious leaders of that day? Or will you let Him lead you daily in this life? If you have not already done so, prepare your heart for Easter by receiving Him into your heart and believing in His name.