Testify or Deny

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

TESTIFY OR DENY

John 18:19-25

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 struck 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, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.   25 As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, "You are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it, saying, "I am not."

NIV

There are two situations going on here in this narrative. First the exchange between Jesus and Annas, the high priest. Then there is the second denial of Peter. It is curious that Jesus said that he spoke openly to the world and that he always taught in synagogues or at the temple where all Jews come together. What about the times he taught from the boat, or on the hillside when he fed the thousands? Was he not outside when he spoke of the beatitudes? What about all the times he spoke in parables so only those who had ears to hear could understand? Yet, we also know Jesus would never lie, he always has and always will tell the truth, for he is truth. However, this questioning may have been only about the teachings of Jesus during those times that he was in Jerusalem where the Jews did gather, especially on special festival days. Although they wanted to find him guilty of some wrong, he wanted them to testify to exactly what he taught that was wrong. It appears from the narrative, they could not testify to anything that he taught that was wrong, but that was not to stop them from their evil plot. It is also interesting how that statement by one of the officials shows us how men respect men but refuse to respect the truth, in fact they slap the truth right in the face. Men get all puffed up in their titles and positions in society, and in this case, in religious circles or the religious society. It seems nothing has changed over the years. Mankind, the world only respects itself and ignores, in fact disrespects any truth of God. Even in the face of truth, this official and men today cannot actually defend against the truth, they can only slap it. So, not getting anywhere with Jesus, still bound they sent him off to the current high priest. Meanwhile, that other situation concerning Peter was going on. All this was happening at the same time as we know after the third denial the rooster crowed and Jesus turned to look at Peter. So Jesus was still in the house of Annas while Peter made his second denial. How is it that Peter, the one disciple who at Caesarea Philippi made that outstanding response when Jesus asked them who do they say he is? Peter was the one who said, “You are the Christ”. It makes us wonder although we are strong in our faith, and we love the Lord, and we confess that he is the Christ, the Messiah, and the Son of God, that by our silence at times, it becomes a form of denial. When we are in the midst of the world, especially among those we are in close connect with on a daily basis and we hear the disrespectful way they speak of the truth of God, do we speak up, or do we just sit there in silence? Do we engage or draw away? Do we testify to what they say as being wrong, or do we just let it go on? They may not speak directly against Jesus, but their discussions regarding the harm man does to the environment is just an example of their disrespecting Jesus, the maker of heaven and earth. Their position on the environment only proves they believe they are greater, stronger, more powerful than God, who not only created the earth but sustains it by his word. He is the only power that will either sustain or destroy this earth. They disrespect Jesus in so many other ways, but how do we respond is the question. Do we testify to the truth, or do we deny it?