The term “blasphemy” is an inquisitively subjective word. It’s not like the word “tree”; either something you see is a tree or it’s not. There is nothing else to consider that something is a tree other than a dictionary perhaps. But to consider something a blasphemy requires a wide range of knowledge which covers things like what is the focal point, what is your knowledge of God, who is your audience, who is not in your audience, what associations with what and who you know would point you toward decrying something as blasphemous, and what is at stake concerning your well-being and the well-being of those who mya depend on you for certain things.
The high priest who uttered the words in the title of this post was speaking in the midst of a council of chief priests as described in Mark 14:55–60. We can surmise that the priests are of the Jewish faith since it is unlikely that the pagans at the time would see an issue with Jesus saying in Verse 62 saying he is the Christ and “you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” If they were pagans, their rection may be one of, “Huh?”
Part of what Jesus says to the priests comes from Psalms 110:1 which says “The LORD says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’” And the part about the son of man coming with the clouds may have come from Daniel 7:13 in which Daniel says, “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man…” We know, at least, that Jesus was well versed in the Old Testament to phrase what he says to the priests in such a manner.
Seems that Jesus was merely repeating things that were in the Old Testament, apart from his saying that he is the Christ. Seems that Jesus saying he is the Christ is what rankles the high priest enough to say that the council ‘has heard his blasphemy.’
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines “blasphemy” as “something that you say or do that shows you do not respect God.” Clearly this is a judgement call, and it was a bad judgement made by the high priest. If, perhaps, Paul, who was a Pharisee before he became a disciple of Jesus, had been with Jesus instead of Peter who was cowering outside while Jesus was questioned, as determined in Mark 14:66–68, the high priest may have at least wondered what was on Jesus’ mind before boldly accusing him of blasphemy.
The high priest who uttered the words in the title of this post was speaking in the midst of a council of chief priests as described in Mark 14:55–60. We can surmise that the priests are of the Jewish faith since it is unlikely that the pagans at the time would see an issue with Jesus saying in Verse 62 saying he is the Christ and “you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” If they were pagans, their rection may be one of, “Huh?”
Part of what Jesus says to the priests comes from Psalms 110:1 which says “The LORD says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’” And the part about the son of man coming with the clouds may have come from Daniel 7:13 in which Daniel says, “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man…” We know, at least, that Jesus was well versed in the Old Testament to phrase what he says to the priests in such a manner.
Seems that Jesus was merely repeating things that were in the Old Testament, apart from his saying that he is the Christ. Seems that Jesus saying he is the Christ is what rankles the high priest enough to say that the council ‘has heard his blasphemy.’
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines “blasphemy” as “something that you say or do that shows you do not respect God.” Clearly this is a judgement call, and it was a bad judgement made by the high priest. If, perhaps, Paul, who was a Pharisee before he became a disciple of Jesus, had been with Jesus instead of Peter who was cowering outside while Jesus was questioned, as determined in Mark 14:66–68, the high priest may have at least wondered what was on Jesus’ mind before boldly accusing him of blasphemy.
