At last, the religious officials thought, they had captured Jesus and could interrogate Him in private. But Jesus taught the crowds in public, consistently telling them the truth from God. What more could His interrogators learn? But when Jesus told them to find evidence against Him they took offence, hitting Him in the face.
Instead of them judging Jesus, He gave them a lesson in justice. Jesus reminded them that justice is all about the truth. If you cannot demonstrate guilt then the prisoner must be declared innocent. Speaking the truth was natural to Jesus because He is the Truth. Truth is part of His nature, the nature of God. But His captors were not interested in truth; they just wanted Jesus to be removed from their lives, for ever. Like that, they could pretend that they were true and He was not.
Many people still believe that Jesus does not matter, that they do not need His help or advice: they are wrong, and especially so when they refuse to submit to His authority. God can never be cross-questioned as though His future depends on the verdict of human beings - neither can He be accused without evidence; and there never is anything to demonstrate that God is anything other than good all the time. So to be angry at God, to blame Him or even to question His actions or motives, is foolish: not only because God is always true to His Word but because He easily exposes where we are false. It is time to repent!
The Foolishness Of Judging God
John 18:19-24
Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. "I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus replied. "I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said." When Jesus said this, one of the officials near by struck him in the face. "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" he demanded. "If I said something wrong," Jesus replied, "testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?" Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest. (NIV)
Prayer
God of truth and justice. Thank You for being true and good all the time. I am sorry for those times when I accuse You, assuming that Your ways are not the best or that Your motivation is not full of love. Please help me to understand that You work all things together for the good of those who love You, and that You will never leave Your children defenceless or alone. Help me to learn to submit to You even when I cannot see all the past and have no knowledge of the future. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Bible Book
© Dr Paul Adams
