Before Annas and the Court of Caiaphas
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and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His
mouth.”
Isaiah 53:7
.
At last, Caiaphas, raising his right hand toward heaven, addressed
Jesus in the form of a solemn oath: “I adjure Thee by the living God,
that Thou tell us whether Thou be the Christ, the Son of God.”
To this appeal Christ could not remain silent. There was a time to be
silent, and a time to speak. He had not spoken until directly questioned.
He knew that to answer now would make His death certain. But the
appeal was made by the highest acknowledged authority of the nation,
and in the name of the Most High. Christ would not fail to show proper
respect for the law. More than this, His own relation to the Father was
called in question. He must plainly declare His character and mission.
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Jesus had said to His disciples, “Whosoever therefore shall confess
Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in
heaven.”
Matthew 10:32
. Now by His own example He repeated the
lesson.
Every ear was bent to listen, and every eye was fixed on His face as
He answered, “Thou hast said.” A heavenly light seemed to illuminate
His pale countenance as He added, “Nevertheless I say unto you,
Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of
power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”
For a moment the divinity of Christ flashed through His guise of
humanity. The high priest quailed before the penetrating eyes of the
Saviour. That look seemed to read his hidden thoughts, and burn into
his heart. Never in afterlife did he forget that searching glance of the
persecuted Son of God.
“Hereafter,” said Jesus, “shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the
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right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” In these
words Christ presented the reverse of the scene then taking place. He,
the Lord of life and glory, would be seated at God’s right hand. He
would be the judge of all the earth, and from His decision there could
be no appeal. Then every secret thing would be set in the light of God’s
countenance, and judgment be passed upon every man according to
his deeds.
The words of Christ startled the high priest. The thought that there
was to be a resurrection of the dead, when all would stand at the bar of
God, to be rewarded according to their works, was a thought of terror
to Caiaphas. He did not wish to believe that in future he would receive