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Mk 14:62a ... And the Jesus said, ... "I am."

Verse 62 has four phrases containing 24 words. The 1st and 2nd phrases have these 4 narrator and 2 dialog words ... Ho de Iesous eipen, Ego eimi (The yet Jesus said, ... "I am").

The 6 words are bottom up. As soon as Jesus uttered the words I am (ego eimi) he committed blasphemy in the mind of the High Priest. In Hebrew, the words "I Am" was a title of God. Jesus has just admitted he is the Christened One, the "Son of God," the Messiah (King of the Jews).

Michael Turton writes: Note that in Matthew and Luke Jesus deflects the question of his identity, refusing to answer directly (Mt 26:64 ="Yes, it is as you say," Lk 22:67 = "If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer"). Price (2003) speculates that our current version of Mark is incorrect and in the original version of Mark, Jesus deflected his identity instead of admitting it. Grant (1963) says: Caesarean manuscripts agree with Origen that the answer was less direct; they read, 'You have said that I am.' Do they preserve Mark's original reading, reflected in different ways in Matthew 26:64 and Luke 22:67-71? Or has the text of Mark been altered because of the influence of the later gospels?

14:61c < Verses > 14:62b