The True Easter Story: Jesus Signed His Own Death Warrant!

Daniel described his vision of Jesus in Dan 7:13-14 (NIV):

“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Fast forward more than 500 years later to an illegal trial at night before the Jewish Sanhedrin.

Mark 14:61-64 (NIV) - Again the high priest asked Him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

“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.”

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.

The ancient Jews knew their Tanach (the O.T.) far better than we do; the religious leaders of the Sanhedrin knew most of it by memory. Therefore, when Jesus replied to the high priest, the entire Sanhedrin knew the Scriptures that Jesus was referring to. You may recognize Jesus' "I AM" statement as coming from story of Moses and the burning bush in Exodus 3:14. But fewer will recognize that the second part of Jesus' reply is a direct reference to Daniel's Vision of Jesus more than five centuries earlier. The bottom line is that Jesus identified Himself as the Messiah, the Son of God, in the clearest and most unmistakeable way to the entire Sanhedrin. And by doing that, He essentially signed His own death warrant.