Amy C Walters

Jesus’ Trial | Luke 22:66-23:12

Jesus is relatively quiet during his trial so it can be easy to miss the radical things he does say. But underneath the aggression of the religious leaders, the farce of a trial, and the mocking of the Romans, is the unrelenting testimony of Jesus’ kingship.

Jesus is relatively quiet during his trial, so it can be easy to miss the things that he does say. And yet the few words that he does speak are so potent. 

First, when he’s asked if he is the Christ, Jesus says, “If I told you, you would not believe me. And if I asked you, you wouldn’t answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 

Notice how the last sentence starts: “from now on.” What Jesus says there is already reality. It happens now and will continue. 

And what is it that starts now? “The Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” Jesus often called himself “the Son of Man.” It’s a reference to Daniel 7:13-14, where Daniel says, “I saw in the night visions, 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 peoples, 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.” 

The Son of Man comes to the Ancient of Days, God the Father, and receives from him a kingdom. This is a reference to the Messiah. He will receive glory and a universal and everlasting kingdom. That is who Jesus is claiming to be. 

So in spite of the religious leaders’ doubt, Jesus is the Messiah. And in spite of his shackles and the trial and who appears to be in control, Jesus is actually receiving his kingdom and glory and a power that will not be destroyed. 

Also in this statement, notice that Jesus says that he will be “seated at the right hand of the power of God.” He’s describing a royal throne room here where God himself is present. 

Who gets to sit in a royal throne room? It’s not the servants or the guards. It’s the king. The servants all stand. But Jesus, in the presence of God, is sitting. Because he is God. 

Jesus may be standing trial at that moment on earth, but in reality, he is the king, and one day he will sit in judgment on these religious leaders who reject him now. 

Being seated also implies that his work is finished. What Jesus is doing will accomplish salvation for everyone for all time. There is no more work to be done. 

Next, take note of Jesus’ location in his statement: “seated at the right hand of the power of God.” The right hand was a position of honor. 

The religious leaders claimed that Jesus was blaspheming, that is, dishonoring God by saying that he was the Messiah. But Jesus says he’s seated at the right hand of the power of God, that God will honor him by having him sit at his right hand.

Finally, Jesus refers to God as “the power of God,” or the NIV translates it as “the mighty God.” This is called a circumlocution, a way of talking around something using lots of words where just a few would be necessary. Often the Jewish religious leaders would do that with the name of God so that they wouldn’t accidentally take his name in vain.

Jesus uses circumlocution here to point to God’s mighty power. He’s showing that he is not a helpless victim. He has the power of God on his side.

The religious leaders then follow up their question with, “Are you then the Son of God?” Jesus answers with, “You say that I am.” Jesus’ odd response is drawing the answer from the speaker’s own mouth. 

John Piper says that it’s an indirect way of saying yes, and at the same time, calling attention to what the other person really knows deep down. “You have said so. Your words betray something deep within you that is being concealed, perhaps even concealed from yourself. Deep inside, you see that it is so, and you fear that it is so, and so you ask defensively and skeptically whether it is so.” 

John Piper is pointing out that the religious leaders actually deep down know that Jesus is the Son of God, and they’re trying to conceal it. But it works its way to the surface.

Back in Luke 2, Simeon prophesied that because of Jesus, “the thoughts of many hearts would be revealed” (Luke 2:35).  Here it is happening again. In spite of the religious leaders’ best efforts to conceal the truth, it comes to the surface and out through their own mouths.

Jesus has a similar exchange with Pilate when he asks, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus responds with, “You have said so.” Jesus not only acknowledges the reality of his kingship, he’s forcing Pilate to recognize what came out of his own mouth.

Notice how even the mocking of Herod and his soldiers speaks the truth. It says that they dressed Jesus in an elegant robe. It’s meant to mock his claim of kingship as he is there bound in chains and being beaten up by these soldiers. And yet they unwittingly and unwillingly testify to the truth. 

Underneath the aggression of the religious leaders and the farce of a trial and the mocking of the Romans is the unrelenting testimony of Jesus’ kingship.

And that is our key truth for today: Jesus is the honored, undefeatable, everlasting king. 

As much as the chief priests and the teachers of the law try to hide it, the truth of his kingship comes out.

As much as Pilate and Herod make fun of it, the truth of his kingship comes out. 

And no matter how you and I live our lives, the truth of Jesus’ kingship will come out. 

In Philippians 2:9-11 it says, “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name. So that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” 

One day everyone will acknowledge Jesus as king, and those who acknowledge him willingly now will get to reign with him. That’s what he talks about in the story of the ten minas, that those servants who invest and prepare for the king’s return get to share in his rule (Luke 19:11-27).