#5 DIVINE CLAIM

According to Mark 14:61-62, at the trial of Jesus, Caiphas asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” The “Blessed One” is a euphemism for God, since the Jews often refrained from using his name. The question of Caiphas is actually two different questions, “Are you the Messiah? Are you the Son of God?” The first question had at least two purposes. It was against Roman regulations for someone to claim to be the Messiah. That was rebellious talk punishable by death. Also, the people believed the Messiah was to live forever, so crucifixion would prove to them that Jesus was not the Messiah. The second question was a ploy to get Jesus to commit blasphemy. By admitting he was the Son of God and quoting the verses from Daniel, Jesus was claiming to be God himself. This was blasphemy, a crime punishable by death according to the Jewish law. However, the Jews did not have the power to enact the sentence.