“But he kept silent and answered nothing. Again, the high priest asked him, saying, ‘Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’ And Jesus said, ‘I am: and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.’ Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘Why do we need any more witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy; what is your verdict?’ And they all condemned him as being worthy of death.” (Mark 14:61-64)
Jesus warned His enemies — the high priests, elders, and scribes — that though they rejected Him then, they would one day see Him seated at the right hand of God the Father and coming in the clouds of glory to be their Judge. Now is the time to repent and look to Him in faith for mercy and forgiveness before it is too late (cf. Psalm 2:10-12).
Why was Jesus condemned? What were the charges against Him? It was because He told them the truth, that He is God’s own dear Son and that they would, on the Last Day, see Him as prophesied by Daniel: “I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, glory, and a kingdom, so that all people, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14).
Jesus’ enemies accused Him of “blasphemy” for claiming to be the Christ, the Son of the Blessed, and declared Him “guilty of death.” This truth — that Jesus is the Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, and their Judge — was distressing to them. It revealed their total sinfulness and their need to repent and trust in Him for salvation; yet they were unwilling to face their own sin or their need for a Savior.
Today, many also reject Jesus and the Christian faith for the same reason. They are unsettled by the truth that Jesus is the Son of God and shall judge the living and the dead on the Last Day. They are unwilling to acknowledge their sinfulness before the LORD God or turn to Christ Jesus for mercy. Instead of accepting the guilt of their own wickedness, they attempt to justify themselves and cover up their failures.
The Scripture says: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you do not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins — and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 1:7–2:2).
The Bible also says: “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not count iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones grew frail through my groaning all day long. For day and night, your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was drained as in the heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ and you forgave the guilt of my sin” (Psalm 32:1-5).
If we hide and cover our sins, we deceive ourselves; but if we acknowledge and confess them to the LORD, He will have mercy and forgive us for the sake of the holy life and innocent sufferings of Jesus Christ.
As it is written: “Whoever conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will find mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).
Dear LORD God, we acknowledge our sinfulness to You and ask You to graciously forgive and cleanse us for the sake of the holy and precious blood which Jesus Christ, Your only-begotten Son, shed for us on the cross. Amen.