And then I said to the class and to the professor after the professor said “Nowhere in the gospel of Mark did Jesus ever claim to be God or even hint that He was God in human flesh.”

So then I went to Mark 14, verses 60-64, to the trial of Jesus. The trial of Jesus is just an outspoken, obvious declaration that He claimed to be God. It is a very unusual trial. Follow through with me as I relate the Scriptures.

“And the high priest stood up and came forward and then he questioned Jesus saying, ‘Do you make no answer? What is it that these men are testifying against you?’ but Jesus kept silent and He made no answer. Again the high priest was questioning him and saying to Him, ‘Are you the Christ, the Son of the blessed one?’”

And then it says, “And Jesus said.” Now why did He answer? Why was He silent the whole time and then He answered this time? For this reason: in some of the other accounts in the other gospels on the trial of Jesus, the other accounts point out that at this point He was put under an oath where the high priest said, “I adjure you by the name of the living God that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

When the priest did that he put Jesus under oath and according to their custom and law, He had to answer. So that is why Jesus kept silent and then He answered, because He was put under oath. Now notice what He said. “And Jesus said, ‘I am.’” Now come on you cannot any closer to admitting being God. “I am.” I am what? “I am the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Then He gave two great prophecies about the Messiah.

“And you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” To a Jewish mindset that was deity. “And tearing his clothes the high priest said, ‘What further need to we have of witnesses.’” Now notice the chronology. Normally this is what would happen in a trial.

The Sanhedrin, the supreme court of the Jews and the high priests would hear all the accusations. Then the high priests would turn to the Sanhedrin and say, “What do you say?” And they would go out and they would take time to discuss it and come up with a conclusion. Then they would come back in and say “Guilty or Not Guilty.”

Then when the high priest heard that – today the judge brings down the gavel and says “Guilty or Not Guilty” – but in those days the high priest would reach down to the hem of his garment and he would just tear it a little bit and that was like the judge bringing down the gavel saying, “This is the verdict.”

But notice the chronology here. “And tearing his clothes…” You see, before the Sanhedrin brought in the verdict the high priest tore his garments. Why? Because there was one time when the garment was torn before the Sanhedrin brought in their verdict. That was in the presence of blasphemy – someone claiming to be God.

Notice the progression. “And tearing his clothes the high priest said, ‘What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blaspheming. How does it seem to you?’ And they all [meaning the Sanhedrin] all condemned Him to be deserving of death.”

The very chronology of the trial confirms that Jesus claimed to be God. But the issue is, was Jesus truly who He claimed to be? I think that anyone who says that Jesus never claimed to be God when you read the gospels would be somebody standing outdoors on a clear day and says, “I can’t see the sun.”

SUMMARY: Josh answers the professor’s question that Mark does not show Jesus’ claim that He was God in human flesh. Using Mark 14:60-64 the trial of Jesus, Josh describes the proceedings which include the Sanhedrin with the high priest. The other Gospels include the high priest putting Jesus under oath so Jesus had to answer when He was ask about who He was. Jesus is asked, “Are you the Son of God?” And He must answer so He says, “I am.” Then the high priest’s words and actions also show that Jesus claimed to be God. Immediately he tears his garment which was the sign of blasphemy, meaning the high priest heard Jesus claiming to be God. All the Sanhedrin agreed and condemned Jesus to be deserving of death. Jesus’ claim to be God and those around Him understanding His claim both provide evidence of Jesus’ understanding that he was God.

QUESTIONS:
1. Why does Josh use mark 14:60-64, the trial of Jesus?
2. Who was present at this trial?
3. What additional information do the other Gospels record which is not mentioned in Mark? 4. What was the usual procedure for trials?
5. Why did Jesus have to answer the high priest asking about who He was?
6. What did the trial show about Jesus’s claim to be God?