It was a moment of intense drama when Jesus stood a captive before the Jerusalem council.

Face to face, the priests, elders and scribes looked upon the one they hated. They hated him for his authoritative teachings, exposing their empty strivings. They hated him, too, for over-turning their commerce in the temple. This no doubt broke into their own profits.

The dramatic face-down is described in Matthew 26:57-68.

Even at this very time the disciple Peter is racked with inner agony and turmoil. Nothing so painful as watching your own light go out! So the text reads, “But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome,” verse 58. Having pledged himself true to the end, he is drawing back and hating himself for it.

Within the council chambers in their palatial headquarters the religious leaders struggle to coach false witnesses against Jesus, verse 59. How could they! The human heart is just that deceitful. Outer sincerity and religious zeal is not enough. The Holy Spirit of God is needed to move upon and change human meanness.

See now the pure, white light of Jesus’ life showing up their corruption. “But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.” Mud simply will not stick very convincingly on the holy Nazarene.

In a frantic, raised voice the high priest demands of Jesus, “Speak!” “Are you not going to answer?” verse 62.

Majestic silence.

“I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God,” verse 63.

There is the QUESTION OF QUESTIONS. Mark it well. When Jesus answers it, his destiny will be sealed. The way you regard it will also seal your destiny.

There is a babble of tongues on this very point today. Some feel Jesus is but another religious reformer. You may be sure that these crying that “God is dead” will never allow the answer which Jesus is about to give. Then, too, there are those super-critics of the Scripture who say that the deity of Jesus Christ is not taught in the Gospels, outside of John.

Silence, false teachers!  Hear what Matthew records of Jesus’ answer to the question whether he be the Christ, the Son of God.

“You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven,” verse 64.

“Hereafter!” Though nearly 2,000 years have passed since Jesus pointed down the corridor of future time to his return to earth, we are still on schedule. Jesus is not dead. Nor, is He all puzzled over our mixed up world. He is the Savior, God-man, and He will come again.

This overwhelmed the miserable hypocrites. Rebellion against God and the truth had long ago squeezed faith from their hearts. They saw only Jesus there in their charge. They could not picture themselves in HIS charge. He was their prisoner, not their Prince.

In high-pitched frenzy, the leading priest “tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.  What do you think?” Instantly the room rocks with the answer, “He is guilty!”

Reader, will you carefully study this? Either Jesus was an awful blasphemer or else you must prepare to meet Him in glory as your judge.

Indifference is impossible!  Now, I want to make a shocking statement which I can prove to be true: Those shouting ones standing there with clothes ripped in unbelief, clamoring for the very blood of Jesus, are more consistent than so many “Christians” today.

“Away with the blasphemer!” they cry. There is compelling logic in their actions if He is what they say. Ah, but today! One yawns, “I think He’s a good man, but I ….”  Another objects, “But I am too busy to be much involved in religion!” Friend, over there! Stand with those whose garments hang in shreds. “Death to Jesus!” is the rising shout. Now, see their consistent action. They slap, punch, ridicule. Yes — but how can we picture it? — they spit on Jesus. God hates half-heartedness. At least they weren’t guilty of that.

One is drawn to close the curtain on that woeful scene and open it on a far brighter one. From Jesus’ own words, we know that we shall see His day of triumph. Then through opened heavens, He will descend in the glory of God and the holy angels, just like He said. “What do you think?”  If you say He is the very Son of God, your life must agree. If you are unprepared to meet Him in glory, then you do not really believe what He has just said of Himself.