Matthew 27:54

Matthew 27:54 says, Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.  When the soldiers watching Jesus saw the earthquake, were afraid and said that Jesus was truly the Son of God.  We may not feel an earthquake, but until we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord we better be afraid, because He truly is the Son of God and the only way to salvation.  Verse fifty-five states,  And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:  Verse fifty-six adds, Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.  Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee, including Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Jesus, and the mother of James and John were watching from afar off.  Still, even if they were afar off, they still cared what happened to Jesus.  Verse fifty-seven says, When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:  Verse fifty-eight adds, He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.  When evening came a rich man from Atimethaea named Joseph came to Pilate and begged him for the body of Jesus.  Evidently the eleven remaining disciples who were closest to Jesus were not concerned with what happened to His body.  We should never allow events to keep us from being close to Jesus, but we never have to worry about anything happening to Him physically.  Verse fifty-nine continues, And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,  Joseph took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth.  We need to remember all that had happened to Jesus right before and during His crucifixion and realize that His body was a mess, but Joseph still took charge and prepared the body for burial.  Verse sixty concludes, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.  Joseph then laid the body of Jesus in his own tomb, which he had carved out of rock, and rolled a stone in front of it.  When we hear someone say that God has promised them certain things in this world as followers of Christ because He wants them to be happy, we need to remember that Jesus had neither a home or even His own tomb here, and that He was beaten and crucified.  Verse sixty-one states, And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.  Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus were sitting against the tomb.  They still had not abandoned Jesus, even though they really did not understand what had really happened at this time.  We should never abandon Jesus even when we do not fully understand what is happening in our life at all times.  Verse sixty-two declares, Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,  That morning, the chief priests and Pharisees came to Pilate, still concerned with insuring that Jesus remained in the tomb.  Verse sixty-three declares, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.  The chief priests and Pharisees remembered what Jesus said about rising again the third day.  These religious leaders called Jesus a deceiver.  We better hope that as followers of Christ that we never begin to view Jesus as a deceiver, because if we do, then we have never truly accepted Him for Who He is, the Savior of all who put their faith in Him.  Verse sixty-four adds, Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.  The chief priests and Pharisees asked Pilate to make sure that he tomb was secure for three days so that the disciples could not come and steal Jesus' body and claim that He had risen.  They did not know it, but their actions would offer further proof that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead by insuring that when His body was gone that no one truthfully could claim that the disciples had stolen it.  The best laid plans of those who attempt to discredit Jesus will always ultimately fail.  Verse sixty-five declares, Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.  Pilate told them that they had their watch, or troops to guard the tomb and then told them to go and make the tomb as secure as they could.  Verse sixty-six adds, So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.  The tomb was sealed and the guard was set, which insured that no one would get in, but did nothing to keep Jesus there.  People of the world may take all kinds of actions to discredit Jesus, but they will never keep Him in the tomb.  He has risen, and is the only way for anyone to become a part of the everlasting family of God.

Matthew 27:38

 Matthew 27:38 says, Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.  Two thieves were crucified along with Jesus, one on each side. Though they were suffering the same fate, there was a difference.  They were guilty.  Verse thirty-nine states, And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,  People passing by reviled Jesus and shook there heads at Him in judgment.  People continue to do the same thing today, literally if not physically.  Verse forty adds, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.  The people still failed to understand what Jesus meant when He said that He could destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days and didn't realize that He was in the process of doing just that.  Jesus did not need to come down from the cross to prove that He was the Son of God, but needed to remain there to prove that He was by His obedience to His Father.  Verse forty-one declares, Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, Verse forty-two adds, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.  It was bad enough that other people mocked and reviled Jesus, but so did the chief priests and elders.  They said if Jesus could save others, let Him save Himself and come down off the cross and they would believe in Him.  What they failed to realize was that Jesus was on the cross to sacrifice Himself for the sins of everyone, making salvation possible.  Had Jesus come down from the cross, we would all be without hope.  Verse forty-three continues, He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.  These religious leaders then attempted to tell God how to act.  They said in effect if Jesus was the Son of God then God would save Him.  We should never attempt to tell God what to do, no matter the situation, but must simply put our faith in Him.  Verse forty-four says, The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.  We are told that at one time both thieves were mocking Jesus, but we know that one accepted Him before he died.  As long as we draw breath, there is hope of redemption.  Verse forty-five states, Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.  For three hours, there was darkness in the daytime.  There has never been a darker period in the history of the world spiritually than when Jesus was on the cross, because He was taking on the sins of all the world, past, present and future at that time.  Verse forty-six declares, And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?  At the ninth hour Jesus called out asking why His God had forsaken Him.  I don't believe that we can even imagine how Jesus felt at this time.  Verse forty-seven says, Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.  The people still did not understand what Jesus was saying, with some believing that He was calling on Elijah.  Verse forty-eight states, And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.  Someone put a sponge filled with vinegar on a stick and offered it to Jesus to drink.  I am not sure if this was an act of compassion or simply an attempt to prolong the suffering of Jesus, but I believe it was probably the latter.  Verse forty-nine says, The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.  The rest of those gathered there told the one who was offering Jesus the sponge filled with vinegar to let Jesus be and see if Elijah would save Him.  Verse fifty declares, Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.  Jesus then cried in a loud voice and gave up the ghost.  I believe that in this case, that was a very accurate statement.  Until Jesus willing died, or gave up the ghost, His mission was not complete.  We need to be thankful that Jesus was willing to die for our sins and did not come down from the cross.  Verse fifty-one declares, And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;  The veil of the temple which separated man from God was torn from the top down, the earth quaked, and the rocks were spilt.  I believe that this was God showing that He was indeed still in charge and that what Jesus died changed everything.  People would now have access to God not behind the veil the in the temple, but everywhere through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.  Verse fifty-two declares, And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,  The graves were open, and the bodies of the saints arose.  One day, the graves will open and we will all be resurrected to everlasting life.  Verse fifty-three adds, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.  These saints who arose from the dead went into the city and were seen by many, so we know it was not the same as the resurrection at the second coming of Christ, because those who have accepted Jesus Christ and Savior and Lord will no longer be seen on the earth.

Matthew 27:27

 Matthew 27:27 says, Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.  There was a whole band of soldiers gathered around Jesus, but that would not have been enough if He had chosen not to go.  No matter how much opposition we face in our walk with Christ today, as long as we continue to put our faith in Him it will never be enough to overcome us spiritually.  Verse twenty eight adds, And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.  Then soldiers then attempted to humiliate Jesus, stripping Him and putting a scarlet robe, the color of royalty, on Him.  Verse twenty-nine continues, And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!  Then, they platted a crown of thorns and put it on Jesus' head, put a reed in His right hand, bowed their knee before Him, and mockingly proclaimed Him King of the Jews.  They did this all to mock Jesus by putting the signs of royalty on Him, but what they didn't know was that they were correct.  Someone may mock Jesus today, but He is the King of the Jews, and one day every knee will bow to Him for real.  Verse thirty adds, And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.  They spit on Jesus and beat him on the head with a reed.  People are still mocking and spitting on Jesus spiritually today, and yet like with those in that day, He still died for them and they can find forgiveness and salvation if they only believe in Him.  Verse thirty-one concludes, And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.  After mocking Jesus, they took off the robe and put His own clothes back on Him, but they did not change the fact that He is the King of the Jews, and of all who put their faith in Him.  Verse thirty-two states, And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.  The soldiers found a man from Cyrene named Simon and compelled him to carry the cross of Jesus.  Still, he could only physically carry it and could never carry the redemption that would be made available by Jesus.  We may attempt to physically carry the cross of Christ today, but can never carry His cross.  The cross of Jesus brought salvation, and even if we do as we are told to do and take up our cross daily, it can only mean dying to self and not dying for all of humanity.  Verse thirty-three adds, And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,  They crucified Jesus at Golgotha, the place of the skull.  Verse thirty-four continues, They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.  They attempted to give Jesus a drink of vinegar mixed with gall, but He tasted it and would not drink it.  Verse thirty-five declares, And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.  The soldiers, after crucifying Jesus, cast lots for His clothes, which also fulfilled a prophesy about the Messiah.  I am sure that these Roman soldiers did not say to themselves that they must do this to fulfill a prophesy.  Verse thirty-six adds, And sitting down they watched him there;  The soldiers then begin to watch Jesus, I believe to see what He was going to do.  It is never enough to just watch Jesus to see what He might do to prove that He is the Savior, but we must put our faith in the fact that He is without any physical signs.  Verse thirty-seven concludes, And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.  What the soldiers meant as a mockery with the sign over His head  proclaimed the truth of Who Jesus really is.  No matter how much people attempt to mock and discredit Jesus today, they will never change Who He really is, and that is the Redeemer of all.  Of course, even though Jesus died to redeem all, unless we individually put our faith in Him, we will not receive the benefit of that redemption.

Matthew 27:11

 MAT27:11 says, And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.  When the governor asked Jesus if He was the King of the Jews, Jesus simply replied that that was what the governor said.  Ultimately, everyone has to decide this for them self.  Jesus isn't going to force anyone to believe that He is the Son of God, the only Savior there is.  Verse twelve adds, And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.  When the chief priests and elders made their accusations, Jesus remained silent.  God does not always silence nor dispute those who lie about Him.  Verse thirteen asks, Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?  When Jesus remained silent, Pilate asked if He did not hear what the religious leaders were saying about Him.  Sometimes today we may question if God hears all that is being said, but but we can be certain that even if there is no response that He does.  Verse fourteen declares, And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.  When Jesus didn't say a word, the governor marveled.  Verse fifteen says, Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.  There was a custom at the feast for the governor to release a prisoner, and Pilate saw this as an opportunity to not make a decision about Jesus.  We may not want to, but even if we decide to not make a decision about Who Jesus really is, we have already made a decision.  Just ignoring or attempting to get around the question will not exempt us from the result   Verse sixteen adds,  And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.  There was a notable prisoner there named Barabbas.  Verse seventeen declares, Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?  When the people were gathered together, Pilate offered them a choice of having either Barabbas or Jesus released.  Pilate likely felt that he was going to be spared making a decision about Jesus, feeling that the Jews, God's people, would chose Jesus over Barabbas.  Verse eighteen adds, For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.  Pilate knew that Jesus was there because the Jews had delivered Him out of envy.  Verse nineteen states, When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.  Pilate's wife told him to have nothing to do with Jesus, because she had suffered many things in a dream because of Jesus, but she really could not keep Pilate from making a decision, just as no one today can keep anyone else from making a decision about Jesus.  Every one will decide that Jesus either is or is not the Savior.  Verse twenty declares, But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.  The chief priests and elders, the religious leaders of the day, persuaded the people to choose Barabbas.  It is sad when anyone rejects Jesus, but it is even sadder when those who profess to be His people do so.  Verse twenty-one states, The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.  When the governor gave those who were supposed to be the people of God a choice, they chose Barabbas over Jesus.  Verse twenty-two asks, Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.  After the people chose to have Barabbas released, Pilate then asked what they wanted him to do with Jesus, and they said crucify Him.  The choice of what to do with Jesus is one that each individual must ultimately make.  Verse twenty-three says, And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.  Pilate then asked the people what Jesus had done, and they responded by simply saying to crucify Jesus.  Verse twenty-four declares, When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.  When Pilate saw that he could not change the mind of the crowd, he attempted to remove the responsibility for the fate of Jesus from himself by symbolically washing his hands, but it is not that simple.  Pilate was still the one who made the decision, even if he attempted to pass off the responsibility, just as every person is personally responsible for whether or not he or she accepts Jesus today.  Verse twenty-five says, Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.  The people answered correctly that the blood of Jesus would be on their hands, but that did not make Pilate free from his responsibility.  Verse twenty-six concludes, Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.  Pilate released Barabbas and had Jesus scourged and delivered Him to the Jews to be crucified.  Doing what the crowd wanted did not release Pilate from the fact that it was still his choice, and we will all be held accountable for our decision about Jesus.

Matthew 27:1

Matthew 27:1 says, When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:  As morning dawned, all the chief priests and elders took counsel against Jesus.  These were the religious leaders of that day, and they were united against Jesus.  No matter what religious leaders may say today, even if they are united, if they are against Jesus and what He did on the cross, which is to provide the only way to salvation, then they are wrong.  Verse two adds, And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.  They bound Jesus, thinking that they were in control of the situation.  The only way that they were able to bind Jesus was because He allowed them to.  By our lack of belief in Jesus today, He in effect allows us to bind Him.  After binding Jesus, they took Him to Pilate, the governmental leader.  Some people look to the government today to attempt to bind the gospel of Christ.  Verse three declares, Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,  Judas saw what was happening to Jesus and repented for what he had done, attempting to return the money he had betrayed Jesus for.  I believe this tells us that his intent was never honorable, and he could not undo what he had done simply by returning the money.  I am not sure if he repented to God or just repented, or changed his mind, about what he did.  I do know that if he truly repented and put his faith in Jesus that he would have found forgiveness.  Verse four adds, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.  Judas said to the religious leaders that he had sinned and shed innocent blood.  This does not necessarily say that Judas now believed that Jesus was the Messiah, but that he did believe that Jesus was innocent of what He was being charged with.  They asked Judas how this concerned them.  They had what they wanted are were not concerned with Judas or whether he thought Jesus was innocent or not, so they did not take the money back.  Verse five declares, And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.  Judas took the pieces of silver and threw it at their feet and went out an hanged himself.  I personally believe that had Judas really repented and asked God for forgiveness that he would have then gone to see what was going to happen to Jesus and would have stood with the other disciples afterward.  Feeling sorry about what we have done without asking God for forgiveness is not enough.  Verse six adds, And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.  Though the religious leaders had given Judas the money, even after he threw it at their feet, would not keep it, because they said it was blood money.  I believe that if they felt that what they did was God's will that they would have had no problem taking the money back.  Verse seven states, And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.  The chief priests took counsel and decided to buy a potter's field to bury the dead by using the thirty pieces of silver.  This was appropriate I believe, since the religious leaders themselves were spiritually dead.  Verse eight says, Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.  This potter's field was called the field of blood.  Though it was probably not their intention, it was bought with money that led to Jesus shedding His blood on the cross.  Verse nine adds, Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;  Verse ten concludes, And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.  I am sure that the religious leaders did not do this so that they could bring about the fulfillment of a prophesy about Christ, since they did not accept Jesus as the Messiah, but they fulfilled the prophesy anyway.

Matthew 26:67

 Matthew 26:67 says, Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,  The people who had recently welcomed Jesus into the city now began to beat Him and spit on Him.  People too often claim to accept Jesus as their Savior, and when He doesn't turn out to be everything that they hoped for, they turn their back on Him.  Verse sixty-eight adds, Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?  Not only did the people physically abuse Jesus, they began to mock Him, implying that when He had been prophesying that He had not been telling the truth.  We can either accept what Jesus said as the truth, or we in effect are mocking His word.  Verse sixty-nine declares, Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.  Peter was now sitting outside the palace when a young woman stated that he had been with Jesus.  After we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord today, would people be able to tell by the way that we live our life that we have been with Jesus?   Verse seventy says, But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.  Peter made his first denial of Jesus, telling the young woman that she did not know what she was talking about. Verse seventy-one adds, And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.  Peter moved physically a little  farther away from Jesus, and was once again accused of having been with Jesus.  It was not the physical distance that was the problem, but the spiritual one that was.  Verse seventy-two adds, And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.  Peter denied Jesus for the second time, this time a little more firmly than the first.  Sometimes, if we begin to deny Jesus, our denials may become even more emphatic if we have not known Him spiritually as our Savior and Lord.  Verse seventy-three declares, And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrayeth thee.  Though Peter had attempted to further distance himself from Jesus, he was accused for the third time of having been with Jesus, and was told that his speech betrayed him.  Peter's physical speech may have identified him as a follower of Christ, just as a persons words today may, but like Peter at that point, they may not have accepted Jesus spiritually.  Verse seventy-four adds, Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.  For the third time. Peter denied knowing Jesus, this time cursing and swearing as he did so.  Immediately, the cock crowed.  Verse seventy-five proclaims, And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.  Peter had evidently been so focused on himself that he had forgotten what Jesus had told him was going to happen, but when the cock crowed, he remembered and wept bitterly.  When we finally accept Jesus. we should weep bitterly at the fact that we had denied Him before.

Matthew 26:57

 Matthew 26:57 says, And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.  Jesus was brought before the high priest, in the presence of the scribes and elders, or the religious leaders of Israel in that day.  They would contend to know more than Jesus did, and we need to make sure that we never begin to put what we want to believe ahead of what God's word says.  Verse fifty-eight adds, But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.  Peter was no longer boldly declaring his undying faith, but was following at a distance.  We are not told that the other disciples even still followed at a distance.  We should never attempt to follow Jesus at a distance or to be a secret disciple, but we should boldly follow Him if we do and let the world know that we do.  Verse fifty-nine states, Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;  The religious leaders sought false witnesses in order to put Jesus to death.  They had no real charge to bring against Jesus, so they had to seek false testimony.  There will never be a way to discredit Jesus based on the truth, so if anyone attempts to, it will have to be based on lies.  Verse sixty adds, But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,  Though the religious leaders were looking for a false witness, and many came, they were having a hard time finding something believable to charge Jesus with.  Verse sixty-one declares, And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.  Two witnesses finally came who said that Jesus said He could destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days.  They did not understand what He really meant.  If we attempt to discredit Jesus, it will have to be based on a failure to understand what He really has said.  Verse sixty-two adds, And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?  The high priest asked what the witnesses were saying against Jesus, and He did not respond.  If we have false things to say against Jesus, He may simply allow us to do so without any real response.  Verse sixty-three declares, But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.  The high priest demanded by the living God that Jesus tell them whether or not He was the Christ, the Son of God.  Jesus has already given us all the proof that there will ever be that He is the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.  We simply have to accept this or not.  Verse sixty-four declares, Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.  Jesus told the religious leaders that the proof that they would have was when they saw Him sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds.  In other words, it would be at His second coming that people will know beyond a doubt that Jesus is indeed Who He claimed to be.  Verse sixty-five states, Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.  The high priest accused Jesus of blasphemy and said they no longer needed witnesses.  Sometime, people today may attempt to discredit Jesus by misinterpreting His words. but as Christians, we had better hope that we are not the ones doing so.  Verse sixty-six adds, What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. The high priest asked the people, or at least the scribes and elders, what they thought, and they said put to put Jesus to death.  If we do not accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord today, then we are putting His sacrifice to death in our life.  It is of no meaning if we do not accept His gift of salvation.