Taking the Oath – 6

Selections from The Cross He Bore, Chapter 6

Matthew 26:63-64
“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.’ ”

* * *

Warfield reminds us that our Lord’s life of humiliation ‘was not His misfortune, but His achievement,’ and that ‘He was never the victim but always the Master of circumstance.’ This must be borne in mind as we reflect on the Saviour obediently taking the oath. His response was clear: ‘You have said so,’ meaning, ‘Yes indeed; I am the Christ.’

* * *

All agreed that the prisoner was guilty of blasphemy and that he should die. They refused to acknowledge his claims...The cry of their hearts was, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us’ (Luke 19:14). So answers the heart of fallen man when confronted with Christ and the challenge of his cross and his crown.

* * *

Christ’s solemn oath before Caiaphas echoes throughout the centuries.
‘Are you the Christ?’
‘Yes.’
There is the mighty rock that bears the faith of the people of God in all ages. Those who build on that foundation shall never be confounded; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it!

~ Frederick S. Leahy

More reflections from Chapter 6