MATTHEW 26:57-68 THE LIES HAVE IT

Written by , Rector of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Richmond, Virginia
 

⁵⁷ Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. ⁵⁸ But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.
⁵⁹ The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. ⁶⁰ But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward ⁶¹ and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’ ”
⁶² Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?”
⁶³ But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
⁶⁴ “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. ⁶⁶ What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered. ⁶⁷ Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him ⁶⁸ and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?”

At the end of the day when the votes were counted the polls showed that the false witnesses had won a landslide victory – a multitude to one. Even the “judge” spoke a lie when he declared that Jesus had “spoke blasphemy.” And the “jury” also lied when it declared that Jesus was “worthy of death.” Only Jesus proclaimed what is true and it was for that statement that he was condemned.

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it…

⁹ The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. (John 1:1-6, 9-11)

In a world built on lies, the truth has to be eliminated. If it is not eliminated then it will transform the world. But the first step in the process of transformation is illumination – the most devastating event for the liar. When the light of truth is shown in the darkness of lies, what is really there is exposed for all to see. If our lives are built on the illusion of human power and understanding, then we will have to deny the truth of our dependence upon God in order to maintain our status and justify our actions. By doing so we reject the Truth as a lie – we do not “receive him.”

Lord Jesus, you have called me to pick up my cross and follow you, but I have repeatedly chosen to despise that cross and elevate myself in my own eyes and those of others. I have followed too much the devices and desires of my own heart and not sought to submit myself to your gracious and loving will. Shine the light of the Truth in my heart so that I might be transformed and able to follow you more nearly. Amen.

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