Word@Work 187 - Mark 14:61-62
Published: Wed, 08/13/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 14:61-62 Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." (NIV)
The trial judge now moves from the faked evidence, to the most significant question anyone can ask of Jesus: "Are you God's Son, anointed for the salvation and judgement of the world"? The word, 'the Christ' in Greek was the same as 'Messiah' in Hebrew. It is a title rather than a name: it means 'the anointed one'. In the Old Testament, three kinds of people were anointed: the kings (who were, or should have been, the pastors of Israel) - the leaders who brought the rule of God to the people; the priests - who brought the people to God by the prayers and sacrifices; and the prophets who brought the people to face up to God's covenant (usually when the kings were not ruling in a Godly way).
However, the Old Testament also kept pointing forward to the day when God would anoint a very special person, described as God's Son. He would fulfil all the roles of the kings (as King of kings); the priests (as God's great High Priest cf Hebrews 2:17 to make the final sacrifice for the sins of the whole world); and the prophets (He would not just speak God's word, He was the Word of God in a human body cf John 1:1 ... and he would not just bring people back to the old covenant, but would make a new covenant in His own blood cf 1 Corinthians 11:25).
When Jesus admitted His true identity, He also prophesied that He would also be the Judge on the final day. The High Priest should have bowed to Jesus, and allowed Him to be on the judgement seat. All those who do that now, need fear nothing when Jesus comes again. But the 'archbishop' wanted to be the judge, and so Jesus, as a prophet, warned that the roles would be radically reversed. Even so, Jesus would die for him! Still, today, when faced with the clearest evidence of the identity of Jesus, many will scoff at the one who so wants to save them. Nevertheless, keep loving them and telling them the truth - without it they cannot be saved.
Prayer: Gracious Lord. You have won my heart with your truth and love. Help me to keep presenting the true identity of Jesus to my friends, and I pray that some may turn to you. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
The trial judge now moves from the faked evidence, to the most significant question anyone can ask of Jesus: "Are you God's Son, anointed for the salvation and judgement of the world"? The word, 'the Christ' in Greek was the same as 'Messiah' in Hebrew. It is a title rather than a name: it means 'the anointed one'. In the Old Testament, three kinds of people were anointed: the kings (who were, or should have been, the pastors of Israel) - the leaders who brought the rule of God to the people; the priests - who brought the people to God by the prayers and sacrifices; and the prophets who brought the people to face up to God's covenant (usually when the kings were not ruling in a Godly way).
However, the Old Testament also kept pointing forward to the day when God would anoint a very special person, described as God's Son. He would fulfil all the roles of the kings (as King of kings); the priests (as God's great High Priest cf Hebrews 2:17 to make the final sacrifice for the sins of the whole world); and the prophets (He would not just speak God's word, He was the Word of God in a human body cf John 1:1 ... and he would not just bring people back to the old covenant, but would make a new covenant in His own blood cf 1 Corinthians 11:25).
When Jesus admitted His true identity, He also prophesied that He would also be the Judge on the final day. The High Priest should have bowed to Jesus, and allowed Him to be on the judgement seat. All those who do that now, need fear nothing when Jesus comes again. But the 'archbishop' wanted to be the judge, and so Jesus, as a prophet, warned that the roles would be radically reversed. Even so, Jesus would die for him! Still, today, when faced with the clearest evidence of the identity of Jesus, many will scoff at the one who so wants to save them. Nevertheless, keep loving them and telling them the truth - without it they cannot be saved.
Prayer: Gracious Lord. You have won my heart with your truth and love. Help me to keep presenting the true identity of Jesus to my friends, and I pray that some may turn to you. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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