Blinded By The Truth

The high priest and religious leaders hired Judas to betray our Lord. As Jesus and His disciples were in the Garden of Gethsemane, the officers of the Temple came and arrested Jesus and took Him bound to the high priest’s house for questioning. All four gospel accounts give the details of this late-night trial on the eve of the crucifixion and death of Christ. The religious leaders sought testimony against Jesus but could not find agreement on the slanderous charges. They finally found agreement on a statement that Jesus made when He said, “Destroy this Temple, and I will raise it up in three days.” John 2:19. John said that Jesus was referring to His body, not the Temple that Herod had built. But this was not what they were looking for. They needed a charge deserving the death sentence.

Jesus was silent before His accusers until Caiaphas, the high priest, said, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Mark 14:61. When Jesus heard this question it must have reminded Him of when He asked His disciples this question, “Who do men say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” And Jesus said, “But who do you say that I am?” This was when Peter exclaimed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you…for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 16:13 – 20

As Jesus stood before Caiaphas and heard His true identity spoken by the high priest, The Christ, the Son of the Blessed, it was as if He was hearing His Father calling His name! Jesus answered, “I AM, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Mark 14:62

In saying this, Jesus was revealing as much about Himself as He had to anyone up until that point. Caiaphas was fully aware of the Name, I AM; the Name that God had revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14. He was also very familiar with the reference from Daniel 7:13 – 14 of the coming of God’s King and Kingdom, “…and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, 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.”

In that powerful moment, as Jesus was standing before the high priest and the religious leaders of Israel, He fully disclosed His true identity and eternal purpose. But rather than falling down before Him exclaiming, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD, the high priest tore his robes and cried Blasphemy! They condemned Jesus to die for revealing the truth from God’s Word of His true identity. In their blindness they began hitting Jesus in the face and spitting on Him. They were blinded by the Truth.

When religious practice becomes more important than a personal relationship with God through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, the same thing can happen to you. When your eyes are more focused on what you are doing for God rather than upon His word and learning more of God, you too can become blinded by the Truth. God’s word is not a “how to” manual for better worship and living. It is the revelation of God, of Himself in Jesus Christ His Son.

Today, as you read and study the Bible, tell the Father of your desire to know Him more and more from His word, in His Son and by His Spirit. As you do, you will be worshipping the Father in spirit and truth.