“If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”

--Parallel verses:
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬-‭10‬
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

There have been times in my life where I have really blown it and felt bad. There have been times when I seemingly accomplished the impossible and was on cloud nine. There are times when I have had good things dropped into my lap and other times when the good I do is rewarded with bad consequences. As I get closer to God and understand his heart, I put less stock into my accomplishments, awards, and the praise of men. I also put less focus on the attacks and pitfalls set up for me by those who intend harm. Why? Because God is for me. “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭32‬)

Jesus listened to the questions posed to him. They were trying to get him to brag about his title of Son of God. They were goading him. Just like Satan did when he tempted him at the beginning of his ministry. He tried to get him to seek power and authority over God’s plan. And so, it seems, were the Jewish leaders here. They wanted him to claim his position and authority. Not only did they want him to do this to convict him, but to get him to act outside of the character of God and out of anger and retaliation.

Reality is, the temptation to call down his army of angels and claim his position and power was real. But Jesus knew his rescue mission for mankind was more important. He saw through the veiled compliments before and he did also here at his trial in front of the Jewish leaders. He let them come to their own conclusions. Telling them who he was would not help him do what he came for. He wanted them to say who he was and admit it.

A few takeaways here: 1) Sometimes out of pride and trying to prove myself justified, I may be tempted to throw out my accomplishments, position, or qualifications. In front of men bent on doing evil, this will seldom help. God wants us to stand our ground, and to let him get the glory. Jesus did just that. 2) The Jewish leaders relied on head-knowledge about God. But they didn’t really know his heart. Jesus stood on the heart-knowledge of a personal relationship with God, an intimacy and closeness to him. And we see this contrast play out here. The Jewish leaders were trying to use technicalities and rules to convict Jesus. They were laser focused on wiping out their perceived competition for power. Jesus was focused on his God-given rescue mission, through death on the cross, in order to pay the price for our sins. And he consistently acted in a manner that would bring glory to God in the process.

Lord, teach me to look at how I act in the process to bring glory to you, not just the results. And may I see through the attempts of this world to try and get me to take pride in myself. You deserve all the glory, for it is you that I serve!