During his trial before the High Priest Caiaphas, Jesus refuses to answer the many accusations made against him. An infuriated High Priest has just stood up and demanded that Jesus answer the charges. And still, Jesus says not a word. Caiaphas, who is used to being in charge, seems to have completely lost control of the situation. So, now Caiaphas intervenes again. And this time, Jesus will respond. 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. Mark says that Caiaphas asks Jesus “again.” This implies that the High Priest is repeatedly asking Jesus about his identity. This time the High Priest asks Jesus a very specific question. He asks Jesus if he is the Messiah, the Son of God. Now, finally Jesus answers, and when he does, his answer is astounding. The first time he opens his mouth at his trial is to utter the words, “I am”. In the Greek, it’s ego eimi, the sacred name by which the God of the Exodus had identified himself to the Israelites. And then he quotes straight from Daniel 7:13. Jesus is announcing that he is the divine one who will fulfil the prophecies of Daniel. In this brief exchange, Jesus identified himself not only as their God, but as their Messiah and Saviour, who would fulfil all prophecy. For anyone other than God himself to say these things was blasphemy. In dramatic scenes, the Sanhedrin condemned him as worthy of death. Have you really understood who Jesus is? When you understand the implications of what Jesus claimed at his trial, it will completely reshape your understanding of the Bible, of prophecy, and of what happened at the Cross.