But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven."
(Matthew 26:63-64)
Every time I read the accounts of Jesus’ arrest, trial and crucifixion, I always seem to make new connections. Christians have always, and should always, emphasize the point that Christ did not fight back with violence against his oppressors, but I think we do him an injustice if we forget his striking statements during his trial. At his baptism, God’s voice declares “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Immediately after Satan tempts him saying, “If you are the Son of God.” And now Caiaphas invokes God’s name asking Jesus if he the Son of God. I think we often confuse these accusations as statements of status, either Jesus is God’s son or he is not. However, the way Caiaphas and Satan are wording their questions shows that they are doubting Jesus’ job description not his pedigree.
The Son of Man from Daniel 7 is imbued with dominion and glory and a kingdom. If Jesus is God’s son, where is the might that makes right? Kings do not enter into cities on a donkey, they come in on war horses and chariots. We want Jesus to call down legions of angels and start defeating Roman centurions, but as we shall see on Good Friday, it will be a Roman Centurion – a man who knows both power and violence – who will identify God’s Son.
How frustrated must Caiaphas have been? Jesus who is captured and on his way to his death has the gall to say “you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” At Gethsemane, Jesus was most certainly anxious, but now it seems like he has a vision of “the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus is unwilling to accept the power of the world because he knows the true power he is to take up. This stands in stark contrast to the chief priests who will later bow before Rome saying, “We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:15).
Lord, help us to worship only true power. Help us take up our cross that we may follow it.
