Daily Devotion for March 15, 2006

To Jerusalem with the ComPASSIONATE Christ
Day 15

 

False Testimony

 

The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any.  Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.  Mark 14: 55-56

 

The ‘kangaroo court’ that met in the high priest’s palace that night was really an informal gathering of the Sanhedrin, the major religious and political council of the Jews. It had a certain degree of autonomy, but Israel was still occupied by the Romans, so it did not have absolute power. It certainly should not have been meeting in this manner, without proper procedure; one wonders whether Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, members sympathetic to the preacher from Galilee, had been invited. Mark tells us that ‘all the council’ sought witnesses against Jesus. There can have been few friendly faces amongst those who faced Him that night. Jesus’ fate had already been decided (John 11:47-50). Nothing less than death would do.

 

In a normal court, impartial judges seek the evidence of witnesses. The prosecution and the defense bring people who can sway the judge’s opinion one way or the other. But this was not a normal court. In the high priest’s palace the judges themselves were trying to find witnesses against Jesus. They found none.

 

So, they created witnesses! A succession of scoundrels came to bear false testimony against Jesus, but they had been so poorly prepared that they contradicted one another. Under Jewish law, the evidence of two witnesses was required to convict (Deuteronomy 17:6). It is strange that they should try hard to fulfill this aspect of the law, when they were busily breaking the ninth commandment (Exodus 20: 16).

 

Ever been falsely accused by someone?  It can be painful and can lead to many hours of trying to defend yourself, many times with the damage already done.  Jesus does not even try and defend himself, He know that what was happening was all part of what must take place to go to the cross. 

 

Prayer
Lord, help me to always bear true witness of you to all that I meet and talk to.  Silence is not witness, so help me defend you and tell others about you!  Amen

 

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