Luke 22:66-71
When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council. They said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us.” He replied, “If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I question you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” All of them asked, “Are you, then, the Son of God?” He said to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!”
What do you think – what answer are the assembly of elders hoping for? When they ask Jesus whether he is the Messiah, do you think they hope that he is? Or do you think that they believe his is not but hope that he says so? Or would they be relieved if he said it was all just a big misunderstanding.
Clearly they feel threatened by them. And little wonder. Since entering Jerusalem a week earlier he has attacked those who run the Temple, accusing them of fraud and more. He was been wrangling with the chief priests and scribes over issues of authority, challenging their views of taxation, and telling stories that seem like only thinly veiled critiques of the religious establishment.
And so now they ask whether he is the Messiah. But do they mean it?
Perhaps suspicious of their motives, Jesus answers somewhat ambiguously, continuing his own accusation about their unwillingness to believe and then promising that he will soon be situated in a place of undeniable authority. Confused, or perhaps alarmed, by Jesus answer, his interrogators up the ante, asking not simply whether he is the Messiah but whether he is the Son of God.
Jesus again answers ambiguously, using their own question as his answer. And then it’s over. The trial, that is. “What further testimony do we need? We have heard to from his own lips.”
But what, exactly, have they heard. Is Jesus’ answer definitive? Is it elusive? I think – and to be perfectly honest this is more of a hunch than anything else – but I think it’s meant to draw out the prior beliefs and convictions of those in attendance. They hear, finally, what they want to hear.
What about us? What do we make of Jesus – of his words and deeds, his mission and preaching? We have had a much longer time to form an opinion of him. What do we believe? Is he the Messiah? The Son of God? More importantly, what do we make of that? How do we respond? How does our answer shape our lives? Does it shape our lives? Does it, that is, make a day-to-day difference at all?
I don’t ask to accuse. I am genuinely interested in how our confession about who we believe Jesus is makes a difference not just in terms of confirming prior opinions but shaping future action. What further testimony are we looking for to have our faith shape and form our life?
Prayer: Dear God, let us not only confess with our mouths but also with our deeds and life that Jesus – the one who came in love – is our Lord and Messiah. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Oh this is good (and inspiring and timely!) Thank you, again, for writing.