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Coming on the Clouds of Heaven
Recently I've been thinking more and more about this section in Matthew when Jesus is led before the Jewish council and the high priest:
57 Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58 And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. 59 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward 61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’” 62 And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”
Matthew 26.57-68
What I find interesting about this passage is Jesus’ response to Caiaphas. When he asks Him, “Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus’ answer was, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” It's an interesting response. And sometimes we often consider it and think of it in the context of Jesus’ second coming. I think there's certainly some application to that. However, Caiaphas’ response to to what Jesus says is what makes that really interesting. Caiaphas tore his robes and says, “Blasphemy! You've heard it all! You've heard it! He blasphemed!” Well in the Jewish mind I don't know that the concept of the second coming would have caused this reaction. So, I begin to wonder what is Jesus really saying here? What's really going on? If we take a moment and consider the book of Daniel, we'll see what Jesus I think is really doing. It’s what He always does, and that is returning to Scripture, returning to God's Word.
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
Daniel 7.13-14
I'd like to look at the two concepts that Jesus brings out in His response to Caiaphas: the first of course being the Son of Man, which was Jesus’ favorite designation for Himself. We see it here mentioned in Daniel, and what's interesting in the context is that he says one “like a son of man.” Well, I think what's curious about that is he's talking about this figure appearing in heaven and yet he's different than the rest. He's like a son of man. He's like a human appearing in heaven. He's different than the angels, the heavenly beings that are appearing before the Ancient of Days. And not only that, but we could look at the broader context that's going on here in Daniel and we could look at this idea of the “son of man” as a corporate figure or one that represents the salvation of Israel that God was going to bring about. And also, I think most obvious to us, this “son of man” was divine. He was brought before the Ancient of Days. He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. This was a divine human representing the salvation of Israel that's coming before God to receive his power.
But then what's also interesting is Jesus’ response. He uses this term “on the clouds of heaven.” I know in the New Testament, in Paul's letter to the Thessalonians, he talks about the idea of Jesus’ return on the clouds of heaven (1 Thessalonians 4.17). And we see of course in Acts however here he's not talking about coming down with the clouds. He's talking about ascending with the clouds of heaven which I think is an interesting idea (Acts 1.9-11). So perhaps in Matthew when we think about the context of what Jesus is saying here, it's no wonder that Caiaphas would respond the way he did. He was acting like a madman. It was against the law for the high priest to tear his clothes, and yet he does it. He cries out; he goes crazy. What could cause him to do that?
Well, Jesus was claiming to be the divine one that would rescue Israel. He was claiming to be the Christ, which was exactly what Caiaphas wanted Him to say. But more than that, He was anticipating His ascension. His return to God on the clouds of heaven. And of course, after saying this to Caiaphas, He would be led away. He would be beaten. He would be whipped. He would be stripped naked. He'd be paraded before Pilate. He'd have the crown of thorns pressed into His head. And then ultimately, He would be delivered up to be crucified on the cross and die that painful and horrible death.
But not only that. We know from the story that on the third day He rises again. He returns to life. And then in Acts, we read about how His disciples see Him on the clouds of heaven (Acts 1.9). And we have that scene from Daniel where He sits down at the right hand of God to receive dominion and glory and honor.
That's the story of Jesus that we are to remember. And we know that the promise from Acts 1.11 is not only did He go up to heaven, but He's going to return in the same way. So, I finally think about what Paul tells us in First Corinthians:
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
1 Corinthians 11.26
I hope that you think about the proclamation that we're making every Lord’s Day. Not one of sadness. Not one of sorrow. Not one of emptiness that our Lord died. But that He was raised from the dead. That He ascended to the Father. That He sits at His right hand. And that one day He's coming back for us.
Coming on the clouds of heaven.
