Testing Jesus

Bible Reading: Mark 14:53-65

I am [the Messiah], and you will see me, the Son of Man, sitting at God’s right hand in the place of power and coming back on the clouds of heaven. Mark 14:62

Picture yourself with a wallet jammed with money—say, a hundred thousand dollars. The only way you’re allowed to spend your cash is by picking out and purchasing the automobile of your dreams.

Here’s the big question: How should you decide if a particular vehicle is all that you hope for? Would you

• beg the car dealer to let you sleep overnight in your favorite model on the showroom floor?

• park yourself in a lawn chair on a street corner—and gawk as the car you want drives by?

• memorize all the meaty reviews in Road & Track magazine?

• get hold of a test car, fasten your seat belt, and take that baby for a ride?

When you’re picking out a car, there’s no substitute for putting it to the test. Likewise, when you’re trying to figure out if Jesus really claimed to be God, there’s no better place to look than the trial he faced before his crucifixion. It was a test that shows beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus was more than a mere human being.

The high priest running the trial put the big question to Jesus point-blank: “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the blessed God?” (Mark 14:61). Jesus replied with today’s verse, “I am, and you will see me, the Son of Man, sitting at God’s right hand in the place of power and coming back on the clouds of heaven.”

The Jewish officials didn’t miss Jesus’ meaning. The high priest tore his clothing—a public demonstration of his horror at Jesus’ claim to be God. And Christ’s judges saw the issue clearly—so clearly, in fact, that they crucified him and then taunted, “He trusted God—let God show his approval by delivering him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God’” (Matthew 27:43).

The trial of Jesus should be enough to convince any of us that Jesus didn’t just see himself as any old religious teacher. He claimed to be God.

His enemies denied the truth about who he is. So who do you say Jesus is?

TALK: Are you convinced that Jesus is God? What persuades you? What do you need to learn more about?

PRAY: Christ, we understand your claim to be the Son of God. We believe you. You are God come in the flesh. We welcome you as Lord.

ACT: Can you explain this sort of complicated stuff in your own words? Practice quizzing each other with this question: How do we know Jesus is God? Looking for some verses to read? Peek at 1 Peter 1:18-19.