Read John 18:19-24. Circle the word(s) that stand out to you. What is the Lord saying to you?
19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
20 “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. 21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”
22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.
23 “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
Reflections on the Word.
Credibility. Honesty. When a person is cross-examined, one must be careful, not only what one says, but also how one says it. The demeanor of our bodies and the inflections we use in our speech communicate more than just words, it can communicate one’s attitude. For example, the words, “I love you” can mean the exact opposite if the word “you” is inflected with an “eww” sound.
John’s Gospel does not record what questions the Sanhedrin asked Jesus. The chief prosecutor was Caiphas. The questions and answers went back and forth in the darkest hours of the night. They were looking for something to accuse Jesus so that they could condemn him.
Jesus said this, “20 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. 21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said” (NIV).
The religious leaders needed two witnesses to legally charge and condemn Jesus for blasphemy. Jesus knowing that, implicitly asks for the collaborating witnesses which they don’t have. The Synoptic Gospels reveal the difficulties the religious leaders had in finding collaborating witnesses of heresy. They couldn’t find anything incorrect with His words. Would the Jews who heard Jesus exonerate him or condemn him? Would they speak the truth or distort the words of Jesus? The burden of proof was placed on the Sanhedrin, not on Jesus.
If we were placed on the witness stand regarding the Christian faith, would your words, lifestyle and knowledge of the faith be used against or for the Christian faith? Would the prosecutor find hypocrisy or heresy in us?
As Christ followers, we need to be circumspect and precise in our sharing of the faith. Let also our conduct be one in which they can find few faults. May others testify of our godliness and goodness in Christ Jesus.
-Kingston