The Darkness and the Light

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT

Matt 26:57-68

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?"

NIV

It does not matter what men say about Jesus as we can see here. All the witnesses were false, even the ones who were quoting what Jesus said about destroying the temple because they were only seeing with physical eyes and minds. Many people said incorrect statements about Jesus. The world that despises Christianity might agree that Jesus of Nazareth was a historical figure, that could have been a prophet, but that is all. Certainly, all the truth that is recorded about him, firsthand witnessed truth is refuted by the world saying the bible is merely a book written by men in an attempt to control other men. It contains many contradictions therefore it is not true. But the fact is that Jesus says he is the Christ and that is proof enough he is. It is interesting that Jesus tells them they will see him in the future sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming in the clouds. What a dark time in history when religious men, those who profess to worship the one true God and are teachers of the law are trying to find a way to have Christ killed. They have set aside the truth of God for their own traditions and refuse to acknowledge the very scriptures that speak directly about Jesus as the Messiah. Yet, Jesus speaks to them of a time far after they have already died and have spent many years in the grave or perhaps in some form of punishment in hell or hades. We see this as a temporary holding place for the dead who are not in Christ. This is drawn out for us in the narrative of the rich man and the beggar who both died, and the beggar went to the bosom of Abraham, while the rich man was in torment, with a great chasm between them. However, in the end of time, all men will have to stand or rather bow their knees before Jesus as he makes the final judgment, separating the sheep from the goats. But for now, we are in that dark place in time when the High priest and elders of the law, find the only one who speaks the truth worthy of death. The darkness of men, yea, even religious men. They could have had the light within them, as we have, but they chose to live in the darkness of their own thinking. It is also interesting that Jesus is the light, and he tells them who are in the darkness, they will stand before the Light of the World. It is interesting their reward will be to be cast into everlasting darkness. These men spat on Jesus, they hit him, slapped him, taunting him. How dark is the darkness of men? It is sad in one respect, yet this was the plan of God so that we who say yes to Jesus will be redeemed because he is our sacrifice for our sin. This is all about the darkness and the Light.