John 8:21-30
Dispute Over Who Jesus Is
21 Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”
22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”
23 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”
25 “Who are you?” they asked.
“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. 26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”
27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 30 Even as he spoke, many believed in him.
Mark 14:53-65
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
53 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. 54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.
55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
63 The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. 64 “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”
They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.
With Jesus claiming to be the Son of God and claiming things like before Abraham was born, I AM -which is the name of God, He was not afraid of being controversial among the people on earth...The above statements did not help Jesus become popular among the Pharisees, but made Him even more controversial...Jesus is controversial...Imagine someone telling you that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that He is the Only Way to God...And by sayings and claiming these things (and other things) made Him controversial...And where He goes you cannot go...And when He told the high priest ask “Are you the Christ, the Son of the blessed God?”...Jesus answered, “I AM...And in the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of God, the Powerful One, and coming on clouds in the sky.”...And this made the high priest very mad...The high priest tore his clothes...“Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked...“You have heard the blasphemy...What do you think?”...They all condemned Him as worthy of death...Then some began to spit at Him; they blindfolded Him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!”...And the guards took Him and beat Him...
Jesus continuous statements about being near God and having a Special Relationship (at the very least) with God, if not saying directly that He is God He has to be controversial...He said I AM the Truth, the Way, and the Life...No one gets to the Father except through Me...Jesus told the Pharisees: “I AM going away, and you will look for Me, and you will die in your sin...Where I go, you cannot come.”...So the Pharisees could not go where He was going...
He further tells them: “You are from below; I AM from above...You are of this world; I AM not of this world...I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I AM He, you will indeed die in your sins.”...
With Him telling the Pharisees this they asked: “Who are you?”...“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus said...“I have much to say in judgment of you...But He who sent Me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from Him I tell the world.”...