Necessary Truth
Notes
Transcript
Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. 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. Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’ ” And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 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.” 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.” 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. What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”
When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor.
As we’re making our way to the cross throughout this series, we’ve gone from that solemn dinner gathering steeped in tradition to a garden, where we witnessed both sorrowful prayer and a conspired arrest, and now we arrive in a courtroom-type setting. This was the Sanhedrin versus Jesus. All this took place in the span of hours. This trial took place overnight. Matthew 27 begins, “Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of people came to the decision…” What time of morning? Luke 22:66 tells us the proceedings and decisions were wrapping up at daybreak.
Let’s think about this. If you are a citizen of the United States of America, you have these rights afforded to you by the 6th Amendment: “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed...and [they have the right] to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.”
If you watch crime drama TV shows or movies, you’re probably familiar with some of those practices. The accused has the right to a speedy trial—you can’t just lock them up and throw away the key or continually delay legal processes; they must stand trial. When police officers read someone their rights, they say, “You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be appointed to you,” we have public defenders. Jesus wasn’t under U.S. Constitutional Law, but he got a speedy trial by the Sanhedrin—yet it wasn’t public or impartial or fair.
It’s also important as we read this account to be clear about authority. The Sanhedrin had a certain amount of recognized authority among the Jews. They could enact religious discipline. In our denomination, we do have disciplinary and judicial processes. If a person or group feels wronged by another CRC member or official or council, they can choose to use these processes. The end that they would be working towards, the sentence, is admonition and church discipline. Someone would be rebuked and corrected. Someone’s membership could be suspended. A pastor or another officebearer could be deposed from office. These cases are rare, but they do happen. Lawyers sometimes get involved, but it’s not like there’s a CRC jail somewhere, and our processes can’t put someone in a public jail or prison on their own. Only our country’s courts to do that.
The Sanhedrin for Jews had a bit more authority. But as chapter 27 verse 2 tells us, they “handed [Jesus] over to Pilate, the governor.” He was the real law enforcer. Part of this was to get Jesus’ off their hands, but also, Pilate had greater authority. He represented the state, the Empire. We’ll pick up Jesus’ trial under him next time, Lord willing. Today, we’re with the Sanhedrin.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, we live in society governed by laws. Laws have been put in place for our safety, for order, and even for the enjoyment of life. It’s within the bounds of the laws of Wisconsin that most gatherings of 10 or more people are illegal right now. There is a statute on the books which says, “Violation or obstruction of this order is punishable by imprisonment, fines, or both.” As citizens of this state, recognizing that this is beneficial for one another’s health and for the health of the community, we’re respecting this order.
While it’d be great if everyone obeyed every law, that’s not the case. When a law is broken, there can be consequences. Especially when a crime has harmed or injured person or property, someone may be put on trial. Here are a few basics for that. There are 2 parties, the defendant and the plaintiff or prosecutor. The defendant is the one being accused. The plaintiff is accusing them. The real purpose of a criminal trial is to prove the defendant is guilty of the crime their charged with. That’s the work of the plaintiff, and the defendant is going to defend themselves. They are going to try and cast enough doubt on that charge.
The phrasing here is really important because of this legal doctrine called the presumption of innocence. The United Nations has gone so far as to say this is a human right. Civilizations around the world throughout history have functioned on the understanding that a person should be viewed as innocent until they are proven guilty. They aren’t guilty until proven innocent. So, in a jury trial, the jurors are supposed to assume, and if there’s not a jury, then the judge is to assume, from the beginning that the person on trial is innocent. As the case opens, they’re going to hear the accusation, and as the trial goes on, they’ll be given information and have to judge if the defendant actually isn’t innocent, but that they are guilty of the crime they’re accused of.
There’s another couple trial components I want us to keep in mind. People are expected to tell the truth. We’ve probably all heard the words that come with someone being sworn in—they are to “tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” But part of the fifth amendment in the Constitution also states, “Nor shall [any person] be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself,” that’s called the right against self-incrimination. Usually that’s what’s referred to when someone says, “I plead the fifth.” Think about it, if everyone must tell the truth, then why not just ask the defendant, “Did you commit this crime?” “Well, if I must tell the truth, yes.” End of trial. But the defendant doesn’t have to incriminate himself or herself, the plaintiff or the prosecutor must show through the facts of the evidence and witnesses that this person is guilty.
These are the just practices that shape how our courts are supposed to operate: the rights of the accused, presumption of innocence, telling the truth, the right against self-incrimination. When Jesus went to trial, most of those were thrown out. We end up with, the unjust trial of Jesus exposes how great the Sanhedrin’s hatred of him was. There is no problem with the prosecutors in a case having a crime in mind—that’s their job—but whoever hears and judges the case must be impartial. Who presided over Jesus’ trial? “All the chief priests and the elders of the people,” the Sanhedrin was presiding. That’s a problem, because they were the same ones “looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death.”
Their minds were made up beforehand, not only on whether he was guilty, but also what his sentence would be. Rather than finding people who told the truth, they wanted “false evidence” and “many false witnesses.” They tried everything. They were tried baiting Jesus to answer a certain way. When it came to the end, I’m sure there was a sign of relief, “We’ve got him on blasphemy: someone claiming to be God that is not God. He is worthy of death.”
If we look back at the Old Testament, what should have been guiding these men, it’s interesting which laws they were willing to break and which they would keep. In Exodus 20 verse 16, the Ten Commandments, God says, “‘…You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor…” You shall not lie against others. Expanding in the opening of Exodus 23, “‘…Do not spread false reports. Do not help a wicked man by being a malicious witness. Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd…” The Sanhedrin had no problem breaking those laws that God gave his people, gave them.
This is what we find in Deuteronomy 19 verses 15-19, though, “One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” They had to follow that law. “If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse a man of a crime, the two men involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the Lord before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time. The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against his brother, then do to him as he intended to do to his brother. You must purge the evil from among you.”
All along, Jesus knew the hearts of these men. He knew that they would find him guilty. He didn’t have to refute their lies; it was plain that they were wrong. So, he sat silent through that night. He knew they would not understand the truth if he told it, and was also being “obedient to death,” to his Father’s will. He knew this had to happen. But so that it was plain to the Sanhedrin, and through the recording of Scripture it is plain to all who read these words, Jesus accepted the charge that he is the Christ, the Son of the living God!
In his commentary, John Calvin sums it up this way, “Jesus came publicly forward, bearing the title of the Christ. Why do they not consider the fact itself? Why do they not examine the signs, by means of which a correct decision might have been formed? But, having already determined to put Christ to death, they are satisfied with this pretence of sacrilege, that he claimed for himself the glory of Divinity. And yet Caiaphas examines the matter on oath, as if he had been prepared to yield as soon as it was fully ascertained; but all the while his whole mind is filled with a malicious hatred and contempt of Christ, and is so blinded by pride and ambition, that he takes for granted, that as soon as the fact has been ascertained, without inquiring whether it is right or wrong, he will have just grounds for condemning him.”
All throughout this series, all throughout Jesus’ ministry, and throughout God’s word, we can ask the questions, “Why not consider Jesus to be who he presents himself to be? Why not consider him to be who others believe him to be?” There’s plenty of evidence in Jesus’ actions, his words, in the relationship between him, the Father, and the Spirit revealed through his time on earth. The Sanhedrin and all Jews are looking for the Messiah, why not test Jesus before drawing conclusions? It all goes back to the reality that they hated him. They hated him because all humanity, by nature, hates God. We hate the one who loves us, unless the Father leads us to him.
That’s where we go for our second of two points today: the necessary truth that must be proclaimed and believed is Jesus is the Christ, and there is no other Savior. In this trial, the Sanhedrin concluded that Jesus was blaspheming—he was not who he said he was. But just because they, or people in general, reach certain conclusions doesn’t mean their conclusions are necessarily true. Just because people reject that Jesus is the Son of God sent to be the ultimate hope of the world, doesn’t change the truth or fact or reality that he is precisely that.
While that truth may be considered false by many people, those of us who claim the Christian faith hold that there is no other way to God. There is no other way to redemption than through Jesus. No other religion or tradition can offer his promise. I recognize the same claim could be made against us, “Just because you conclude he’s the Christ, doesn’t make it true.” While that seems to be a fair argument, the reality that we must cling to and cherish is that the one and only God has revealed this to us. This is what he has revealed in his word and this is what the Spirit, who lives in us, testifies to. Jesus is the Christ, and there is no other Savior.
Right now, and in other times of crisis, fear, or panic, those of us in the church sometimes wonder, will more people finally recognize God is real? Will they see or feel a need for something bigger than themselves, something bigger than any person or change in lifestyle can offer? Will more people turn to God? We must be careful. God may use means like this to draw people to him. If we think back to the account of Jonah and Nineveh, it was under threat of destruction that the people of that city repented. We have to understand, though, that how a person comes to Jesus is not through typical persuasion or coercion. We come to Jesus only by receiving God’s gift of faith.
In 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, Paul wrote, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate’...Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called…Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”
What do most people say they’re looking for right now, besides toilet paper still? They’re looking for answers. They’re looking for vaccines, for something tangible that will lead to the remedy, the stopping, the elimination of this outbreak. People, and this can include us, are looking for optimism, for something positive to get us through different degrees of quarantine and lockdown. It’s been a difficult week to have things change so fast, and then for us here in Baldwin, it’s been dreary and gray and rainy and cold again. We want something to lift us up.
Jesus provides us with hope for here and now, we know he gives blessings and graces in our lives, but we also know there is so much more to come. In times like these, so many people want things to change right now. Everything needs to be fixed: the sickness, the stock markets, sports and entertainment schedules. People will feel happy when things go back to “normal.”
But Christians profess and cling, all the time and especially now, to Someone who doesn’t promise or provide instant change according to our every wish. We want to share him with others. To some that might seem foolish. They might say, “Why waste time in worship or studying the Bible or seeking fellowship or maturing in your faith when there’s more pressing matters at hand?” If that’s what the wisdom of our age teaches, then people won’t find value in a life with Christ.
But for those whom God calls, for those whose hearts are bent towards him, there is no truth more precious than the truth that Jesus is the Christ—he is the Savior. He’s the one who in God’s court has every right to put us on trial, to judge us as our sins deserve, and yet he says, “I’ve taken your sentence and paid for it myself.” It is my prayer that this is a time of people coming to faith, that God might use uncertainty and weakness to show his power in the lives of those he loves. Let us continue to trust God, and trusting him also means continuing to love others. Amen.