Luke 22 v 70. “They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?”
The members of the Sanhedrin, the rulers of the Jewish people now show their malice and cruelty by allowing the soldiers, the underclass, to assault Jesus. Think of it. He who did no harm, spoke no cruel word and went about only doing good, is now the object of a senseless beating, by the temple guard.
More than that, they insulted him. They heaped abuse upon him, so crude and vile that Luke simply makes the statement, “And they said many other insulting things to him.”
Finally he was brought before the religious authorities and what was supposed to be an investigative trial, commenced. But there was no interest in the truth at this time. They were merely seeking an opportunity to condemn him to death. Jesus knows this and therefore states his identity in no uncertain terms. “But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” (verse 69)
We must note that his accusers understood him to be claiming equality with God both in position and in power. His enemies were, of course, delighted because to them a claim of this nature was the height of blasphemy and it gave them the grounds they needed to have him executed. They asked the question again in verse 70 to make sure they had heard correctly. They could now set about planning his execution. But the irony is that their execution of him would be but the first step in the process of his journey to the right hand of the power of God.
Here is an example of the fact that some people never learn. Many people that we meet on life’s journey are not interested in ultimate truth, as much as they are concerned about keeping their own comfort zone intact. That is why so many we try to talk to about the Gospel reject it out of hand. They think that if what we say about Jesus is true their own world will be seriously rocked. Of course it will. Hence their anxiety.
And so our Saviour, in the hands of his enemies is on his journey to the Cross.
Blessed Saviour. We worship Him. We thank God for His faithfulness even to death upon a Cross.