Luke 22:63-71
The Son of Man before the Council
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63The men who were holding Jesus began to mock Him and beat Him.
64They blindfolded Him and kept demanding, “Prophesy! Who hit You?”
65And they said many other blasphemous things against Him.
66At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and scribes, met together. They led Jesus into their Sanhedrin and said,
67“If You are the Christ, tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe.
68And if I ask you a question, you will not answer.
69But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
70So they all asked, “Are You then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.”
71“Why do we need any more testimony?” they declared. “We have heard it for ourselves from His own lips.”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
The men guarding Jesus mock Him and beat Him. They blindfold Him and ask Him to prophesy who struck Him. They say many other blasphemous things against Him.
When day comes, the assembly of the elders of the people gathers, including the chief priests and scribes. They bring Jesus into their council and ask whether He is the Christ.
Jesus says that if He tells them, they will not believe, and if He asks them, they will not answer. He then says that from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.
They ask whether He is the Son of God. Jesus replies, “You say that I am.” They conclude that they have no need of further testimony because they have heard it themselves. The council seeks a charge, while Jesus speaks truthfully under humiliation.
The men holding him can blindfold and strike him, but they cannot determine the place God will give him. The seat at God's right hand is a place of authority and honor. Jesus speaks of that future while standing as their prisoner. His identity is not undone by their contempt, and their verdict will not be the final one.
How We Know
Psalm 110:1 speaks of sitting at the Lord's right hand, while Daniel 7:13–14 describes the Son of Man receiving enduring authority and glory. Jesus brings these royal themes into his answer before the council. The prisoner claims a place of power given by God, which explains the weight of what the leaders have heard.
Questions
1 How do the guards treat Jesus?
AnswerThey mock Him, beat Him, blindfold Him, and challenge Him to identify who struck Him.
2 What does the council ask Jesus?
AnswerThey ask whether He is the Christ and later whether He is the Son of God.
3 Where does Jesus say the Son of Man will be?
AnswerHe says the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.
4 Why do the leaders say they need no further testimony?
AnswerThey believe they have heard Jesus' own claim and use it to justify the charge they are already pursuing.
What This Means for Us
Jesus is subjected to mockery before a formal charge is even settled. The scene warns that institutions can use questions to confirm a verdict rather than seek truth.
Families can practice a different kind of authority: listen before accusing, refuse humiliation as entertainment, and protect people from group pressure that makes cruelty feel justified.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You endured mockery and false judgment without abandoning truth. Make our household careful with accusations, protective of the humiliated, and courageous when power uses questions to hide a verdict. Amen.