Who Is Jesus? (Mark 14:53-63)

When I was a teenager a priest challenged me by saying that Jesus never claimed to be the Son of God. He told me that Jesus called Himself the Son of Man, not the Son of God. Recently I read a quote by historian Bart Ehrman that said, “If Jesus had not been declared God by his followers, his followers would’ve remained a sect within Judaism, a small Jewish sect.” It can be very intimidating when well educated men challenge your faith.

Did Jesus ever make the claim that He was the Son of God? There were many times throughout Mark’s gospel that Jesus told those who followed Him and those He healed to be silent concerning His identity; but was there ever a time when Jesus plainly stated that He was the Son of God? Yes. It was when the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus to put Him to death and they couldn’t find any. There were many who came to give false testimony but they didn’t agree with each other. Finally, the high priest questioned Jesus. Jesus didn’t defend Himself against the false accusations, so the high priest asked Him, “Are You the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One” (Mark 14:10)? To this Jesus said, “I am.” But He also added, “ and all of you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:62). With these words Jesus claimed to be both the Son of God and the Son of Man.

Jesus not only said that He was the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One, He also told all who were seated in judgment of Him that “all of you will see Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:62). The high priest would have known the reference to Daniel 7:13-14, “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”

In His short response Jesus also made reference to Psalm 110:1, “The Lord said to my lord: ‘sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’” Did Jesus claim to be the Son of God? Yes. He also claimed dominion over those who were judging Him, and let them know that one day His Father would make them a footstool for His feet. Is it any wonder that the high priest tore his robe and cried, “Blasphemy!”?

The high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders, and all the scribes gathered together to judge Jesus, and like a lamb before its shearer is dumb, in the same way Jesus didn’t open His mouth. However, when the high priest finally asked the only question that really matters, “Are You the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One,” Jesus didn’t hesitate to answer. This is a question we must all ask, “Who is Jesus?” Through the gospels we have the same evidence that the Sanhedrin did. Our response to this question will determine our relationship to Jesus when He returns.