Facing Accusations

AM Psalm 119:49-72 • PM Psalm 49, [53]
Joshua 8:30-35 • Rom. 14:13-23 • Matt. 26:57-68

In our gospel reading today, Jesus is brought before the teachers of the law and the scribes. It says they were “looking for false testimony” so that they could build the case to put him to death. Jesus had not done anything overt, but his message of love and acceptance had threatened the establishment enough that they were willing to do whatever it took to stop him. They found people willing to say things that weren’t true. They used his words against him, and wanted him to explain himself.

He didn’t.

When we see the situation framed that way, it is strikingly similar to the dynamic we seem to be struggling with to this day. In our polarized society and conversations, we see people resorting to misinformation that is outrageous and unprovable, but present nonetheless. I find it to be incredibly challenging not to rage respond to things that I know are not true. I initially indulged my urge to be a “truth warrior,” but found that not only did I not change the person’s mind, but subjected myself to what always resulted in personal attacks. I was just digging the hole deeper.

I believe what Jesus did can be a lesson for us. His response indicates that he knew there was nothing he could say that would change their intentions, and most importantly he knew that the events he set in motion would be a physical manifestation of the truth. They could kill him, but they couldn’t kill the movement.

Our truth is shown in our persistence, our patience, our grace, and our faith in God’s plan. We can use our words to state our truth, but we can not use them to wrestle people into submission. Our hope and faith is that God will continue to open all of our eyes and hearts.

Written by Dan Robinson

Dan Robinson is the Media Ministries specialist at St. Paul’s, overseeing the streaming of services online.