• MAD DEVOTION
  • Posts
  • Blinded by Unbelief: The High Priest’s Judgment and Our Own

Blinded by Unbelief: The High Priest’s Judgment and Our Own

Mark 14:61–64

Author

Josh Hernandez
March 28, 2025

[61] Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” [62] And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” [63] And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? [64] You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. (ESV) Mark 14:61–64

Is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God? Jesus was faced to answer this question in front of the religious authorities, knowing that if He were to confess that He truly is the Son of God, He would be sent to be crucified. The consequences of simply answering a question on a personal identity was a matter of life and death. Jesus, the Son of God, who is perfect, cannot and will not lie. He confesses of His identity, knowing He will be sent to die for this claim. In this passage we see the religious leaders unbelief blind them from seeing the reality of Christ being the promised Messiah.

The Condemnation of Christ

Their focus was on the law, which says, “Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death” (Leviticus 24:16). With an unbelief that Jesus was the Messiah, this claim was enough to put Him to death.

What is significant is that it wasn’t just the religious leaders' unbelief that sent Christ to the cross, but ours as well. In our sin we are blinded to the things of God, desiring the things of the world. When something that opposes our flesh comes at us, our flesh does whatever it takes to maintain control. We look at the high priest with judgment, when in reality our lack of faith and delight in the world would have drawn us to do the same.

Praise God for the Holy Spirit, who gives us a new heart, one that desires the things of God. 

In repentance,

Josh Hernandez - MADCHARCOAL