During Jesus’ trial the high priest questioned Him about whether He was the Messiah or not. At first Jesus gave no answer but when the high priest charged Him under oath to God to answer, Jesus responded with one sentence. Here’s the scene:
The high priest then stood up and said to Him, “Don’t You have an answer to what these men are testifying against You?” But Jesus kept silent. Then the high priest said to Him, “By the living God I place You under oath: tell us if You are the Messiah, the Son of God!”“You have said it,” Jesus told him. “But I tell you, in the future you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Mt 26:62-64)
Jesus’ response looked like a straightforward “Yes”, but His answer is much more powerful and deep than just a “Yes”. You see, Jeus was quoting from Psalm 110:1 and Daniel 7:13 that give great detail about Messiah. Those passages are packed with information that the Pharisees would have known but maybe not even connected to the Messiah:
This is the declaration of the Lord to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool.” The Lord will extend Your mighty scepter from Zion. Rule over Your surrounding enemies. Your people will volunteer on Your day of battle. In holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, the dew of Your youth belongs to You. The Lord has sworn an oath and will not take it back: “Forever, You are a priest like Melchizedek.” The Lord is at Your right hand; He will crush kings on the day of His anger. He will judge the nations, heaping up corpses; He will crush leaders over the entire world. He will drink from the brook by the road; therefore, He will lift up His head. (Ps 110)
I continued watching in the night visions, and I saw One like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before Him. He was given authority to rule, and glory, and a kingdom; so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed. (Dan 7:13-14)
Jesus made it clear He was not only Messiah by quoting these verses but He was claiming MUCH more. That is why the high priest and Sanhedrin became so furious. Look closely at what these verses and Jesus were saying about Himself. He is:
– Lord (Ps 110:1)
– Judge (Ps 110:2)
– Ruler (Ps 110:2)
– High Priest (Ps 110:4)
– His enemies (including the Pharisees) would be crushed under Him (Ps 110:1)
– King – over all and forever (Dan 7:13-14)
Last of all, Jesus was telling them that He is God. We know this from the reference to riding on the clouds. Look at the OT references to riding on clouds:
An oracle against Egypt: Look, the Lord rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. (Isa 19:1)
My soul, praise Yahweh! Lord my God, You are very great; You are clothed with majesty and splendor. He wraps Himself in light as if it were a robe, spreading out the sky like a canopy, laying the beams of His palace on the waters above, making the clouds His chariot, walking on the wings of the wind, (Ps 104:1-3)
Sing to God! Sing praises to His name. Exalt Him who rides on the clouds — His name is Yahweh—and rejoice before Him. (Ps 68:4)
There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to your aid, the clouds in His majesty. (Dt 33:26)
God rides on the clouds. Jesus’ reference to riding on the clouds is a reference the Pharisees would have understood as Him declaring to be God the Son.
So, when asked by the high priest if He was the Savior, Jesus didn’t just say, “Yes, I’m the Messiah” … He gave a much more complete picture of His identity. He referenced Scripture showing them He was Lord, King, God’s Son, High Priest, Ruler, and God and that someday they would be under His feet completed defeated.
Jesus is Savior, but He is much more and He let people know it. We need to keep this in mind in our lives. We need to keep this in mind when witnessing the Gospel to people. When we witness to them, we should show them that Jesus is Savior but not stop there. We should explain to them that He is Lord, God, Judge, Ruler, and King and that same day He will reign.
Most evangelism training stops at Him being Savior when explaining who He is. But Jesus didn’t stop there. He painted the full picture about Himself including that He is Judge, King, and Ruler. We should as well!
Take time out to praise, honor, and worship Jesus now for who He is.
Think about it
You know Jesus as Savior but He is also Judge, Ruler, and King. What area of your daily life (finances, relationships, secret thoughts) is currently struggling to submit to His ruler ship?
How does knowing that Jesus is the cloud-riding God and King change how you think of Him or approach Him in prayer?
Do you think presenting Jesus to a non-believer as Judge and King along with being Savior change the urgency and weight of the Gospel to them?
Do you think presenting the full picture of Jesus as Savior, Lord, King, and Judge to other people will change their perspective and commitment level to Him?
Jesus is God who will ride on the Clouds and return someday. When you worship or pray do you view Him with that level of majesty and greatness, or has He become overly familiar to you?
How does knowing that Jesus holds ultimate final victory comfort you when you see injustice or evil winning in the world today?
