For almost all of His ministry, Jesus kept much of His work secret. He did not seek to make Himself known or to attract large crowds.

At the very first of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus healed a man with leprosy and sternly warned him to tell no one about it (Mark 1:40-45). In accordance with the Jewish law, he charged the man to only show himself to the priest and give the sacrifices commanded by Moses. The priest would declare him clean and he once again could enter the Temple area and re-engage with society. Unfortunately, the man began to talk freely, spreading the news.

At the end of His ministry Jesus changed directions. We see this as Jesus stood before the high priest as recorded in the Gospel of Mark (Mark 14:53-65). As long as the high priest and others accused Him of wrong doing, Jesus remained silent (Mark 14:60-61). But when the high priest asked Him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?,” Jesus answered openly saying, “I am” (Mark 14:62).

He went on to say, “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

With those words the high priest called for a vote and received a verdict of death for Jesus.

Why did Jesus answer the high priest about His Messianic mission but would not defend Himself against false charges?

First, the appointed time had come to fulfill His mission. He was ready to follow the will of the Father.

Second, Jesus was unconcerned about false charges. His mission had little to do with self-promotion; it had everything to do with sacrifice for others.

Third, when the high priest asked about who He was, Jesus told Him who He was and where He came from. Jesus’ answer (Mark 14;62) indicated that He was God in the flesh. “I am,” “the Son of Man,” sitting at the right hand “of the Mighty One,” and “coming on the clouds of heaven” all pointed to His association with the Father. The time  had come for Jesus to reveal the Father.

Isn’t it ironic that Israel’s high priest had so little understanding of God and His ways? Isn’t it amazing that God had come to earth and so many people missed it?

Where do you stand with this? Are you,too, missing the significance of what Jesus did?

It is now time to tell of Him openly.

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