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422
Humble Hero
At last Jesus’ accusers were entangled, confused, and angry.
It seemed that their plottings were going to fail. Caiaphas was
desperate. He had only one last resort—to force Christ to condemn
Himself. The high priest stood up suddenly from the judgment
seat, his face contorted with passion. “Do You answer nothing?”
he exclaimed. “What is it these men testify against You?” Jesus
remained silent.
He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
Isaiah 53:7
Finally, Caiaphas addressed Jesus in the form of a solemn oath:
“I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ,
the Son of God!”
To this appeal Christ could not remain silent. He knew that to
answer now would make His death certain. But the appeal came
from the highest acknowledged authority of the nation and in the
name of the Most High. He must plainly declare His character and
mission. Jesus had said to His disciples, “Whoever confesses Me
before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in
heaven.”
Matthew 10:32
. Now by His own example He repeated the
lesson.
Every eye was focused on Jesus’ face as He answered, “It is as
you said.” A heavenly light seemed to illuminate His pale features
as He added, “Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the
Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on
the clouds of heaven.” For a moment the high priest trembled before
the penetrating eyes of the Savior. Never from then on did he forget
that searching glance of the persecuted Son of God.
Caiaphas Almost Convinced
The thought that all would stand at the judgment bar of God, to
be rewarded according to their works, terrified Caiaphas. The scenes