The word confession usually comes with a crime as the criminal pleads guilty. Our confession should be that without Jesus Christ we’re all guilty. Man has sinned and come short of the glory of God. Before Adam and Eve sinned what a glory it must have been to commune with God. We’d all be in a perfect state, a far different world than now, if not for their sin. Paradise is now a wilderness because of it. When we let the devil overcome and defeat us, the first thing to do is honestly admit we failed and sinned against God. We must get to the place of confession that Jesus is the Son of God. The first thing is to confess we’re sinners. Without the confession that Jesus is the Son of God we fail. I can profess and confess a lot of things but unless I understand in my heart and confess Jesus is the son of the living God I fail. No one else can confess it for you. No one else’s faith can be yours. You must do it for yourself. Until then you are not right with God. Jesus is the Son of Man and the Son of God. He alone brings us together with God. Because of his confession we can now make ours. The best thing that ever happened was for someone to tell me Jesus is the Son of God. The next best thing is when I confessed it to the saving of my soul.
Mark 14:60 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? 61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? 62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. 63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?
Jesus told the disciples that the people would try to destroy him and all he was along with the work he was working. It was an effort to stop his truth. Jesus is unstoppable. They couldn’t find credible witnesses to say that Jesus was a fraud and criminal who was trying to upset the Roman Empire. There were many who would confess he was the Son of God but they weren’t asked. Many today are the same. Do we believe the Bible enough to follow it? Do we treat the house of God like the house of God? Can we see our brothers and sisters in Christ as true brothers and sisters? We’re not the only church doing right and going to heaven. We may be high on this hill but our heart must be right with God.
The religious elite of that day wouldn’t call one of the true witnesses. John the disciple stood with Jesus but did not speak. Somehow he knew Jesus didn’t want him to but John had said enough and just standing with Jesus said plenty. Do others know we stand for Jesus? No one should have to drag it out of us. It would be pretty lousy if a verbal confirmation was needed. Being a Christian should show in our character.
The High Priest knew all the witnesses were lying. Jesus said nothing and that angered the High Priest. He looked at him and said Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? Jesus answered I am. They wouldn’t ask those who knew but Jesus decided to answer this question saying and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. This confession makes all the difference. Jesus had already said it many times. Eight times in John he admitted it making his “I AM” statements. He fed multitudes with loaves and fishes and said “I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE.” He reminded them their fathers ate manna from heaven and were dead but those who partake of the BREAD OF LIFE will never die.
In John 18 the mob came seeking Jesus of Nazareth to which Jesus responded “I am he.” The authority of his words knocked them to their feet. They grabbed him and he who was all powerful became weak so he could suffer and bear our sins. Because he went to the cross we don’t have to die the second death, eternal punishment in hell. We have a Savior! Jesus need prove nothing else. God handed us his love through his son. The Bible calls it God commending his love toward us. While we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Jesus doesn’t need to daily prove to us who he is. Don’t go to God with statements like if you’ll do this or this I’ll believe. Who are we to bargain with God?
As the HIgh Priest, he would have spoken pure Hebrew to Jesus and Jesus responded in the same. Did he expect that? We expect Jesus to speak to us in plain English yet what he did on the cross should do all the speaking. When we were saved, we realized what God had already done for us. Jesus didn’t have to speak to me and say Bob, I am. He’s already proved himself. He didn’t have to answer the High Priest either. We listen to false teachers and bind burdens on others. We hate one and love another. We should just be confessing that Jesus is the Son of God.
Jesus does not have to confess to us. We are the ones who need to confess. He’s already proven it all. Are we confessors or rejectors? There is one Bible, one Word and one Savior. If we don’t turn our face to him we might as well just go on home. The Bible tells us that one day all will confess that Jesus is the Son of God.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 