Knowing The Word in Luke 22:66-71

Jesus Before the Council

22:66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”

Comments

A legal meeting of the Sanhedrin could only be held during the daylight hours and not in the darkness. Interestingly, no charges were brought against Jesus or witnesses called. Instead, they invited Jesus to incriminate himself! They want to know if he is the Christ, the Messiah. He refused to answer because they did not understand Messiahship. Before Jesus had asked them penetrating questions about what it meant to be the Messiah, and they had refused to answer. Jesus was not going to entertain any questions from this deceitful group.

After completion of his saving work on the cross, Jesus said he would have the place of highest honor at the “right hand” of the Father. Jesus now had their full attention. They asked whether Jesus claimed a special relationship to God, especially one they did not have as the leaders of the Jews. According to Leon Morris, Jesus’ response meant, “That is your word, not mine. I would not have put it like that, but since you have, I cannot deny it.” The context shows that Jesus’ response must be taken as an affirmative. Jesus’s understanding of the term differed from theirs; but he could not disown being the Messiah.

For the Sanhedrin, this ended the matter. The rejection of Jesus by the Sanhedrin was less honest and much more profound than that of Peter in the courtyard.

Application

Reread the passage above and see if Jesus is the one putting the Sanhedrin on trial rather than the other way around.

Prayer

Most High and glorious God, enlighten the darkness of our hearts and give us a true faith, a certain hope and a perfect love. Give us a sense of the divine and knowledge of yourself, so that we may do everything in fulfilment of your holy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Francis of Assisi, 1182-1226