Word@Work 188 - Mark 14:63-65
Published: Thu, 08/14/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 14:63-65 The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. "You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" They all condemned him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, "Prophesy!" And the guards took him and beat him. (NIV)
The High Priest had surrounded himself with liars in order to secure a conviction against Jesus. But when Jesus admitted His true identity, it was treated as the worst of lies - blasphemy! Blasphemy, at its least, is to belittle or defame God: at its worst it is to claim to be God when you are not. So Jesus' claim to be the Son of God, the Messiah could not have been blasphemous at all - because that was the truth! But the High Priest refused to believe it. He had such a distorted way of thinking because he had rejected the truth for so long, and wanted to accept lies instead.
With his integrity shot through, the religious judge does not make a personal decision about Jesus - he asks the 72 members of the Sanhedrin to vote. There was no considered weighing of evidence, but a unanimous call for execution. Disorder overtook dignity as some, otherwise noble men, spat on Jesus and made sport of Him with their violent games. And what the temple leaders modelled, the guards took as their licence to degrade the King of Heaven.
The masters of 'spin' always fall over in the end, so it is dangerous to keep company with liars. You see, truth is not a commodity to be traded in varying degrees of purity to achieve political ends or personal goals. It will never go away, simply because it is true. History shows that the truth may take a very long time to come out, but God can wait. Untruth was the undoing of the High Priest (and his temple that was razed to the ground less than 40 years later), and his divine judgement is still to come. So it makes sense to practise truth at every opportunity, at home and in business - however inconvenient it may be for the spin doctors ... because it will keep your moral compass true for whatever the world, flesh or Devil may throw at you. It will also enable you to be an 'early responder' when God calls you to witness for Him.
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank You for being the Truth, and for calling me to live and speak the truth. It is not easy to stay sharp for You every day, and I ask Your forgiveness when I have bent the truth for convenience or profit. Help me to be known as a person of truth, to Your glory and to the blessing of those I work and live alongside. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
The High Priest had surrounded himself with liars in order to secure a conviction against Jesus. But when Jesus admitted His true identity, it was treated as the worst of lies - blasphemy! Blasphemy, at its least, is to belittle or defame God: at its worst it is to claim to be God when you are not. So Jesus' claim to be the Son of God, the Messiah could not have been blasphemous at all - because that was the truth! But the High Priest refused to believe it. He had such a distorted way of thinking because he had rejected the truth for so long, and wanted to accept lies instead.
With his integrity shot through, the religious judge does not make a personal decision about Jesus - he asks the 72 members of the Sanhedrin to vote. There was no considered weighing of evidence, but a unanimous call for execution. Disorder overtook dignity as some, otherwise noble men, spat on Jesus and made sport of Him with their violent games. And what the temple leaders modelled, the guards took as their licence to degrade the King of Heaven.
The masters of 'spin' always fall over in the end, so it is dangerous to keep company with liars. You see, truth is not a commodity to be traded in varying degrees of purity to achieve political ends or personal goals. It will never go away, simply because it is true. History shows that the truth may take a very long time to come out, but God can wait. Untruth was the undoing of the High Priest (and his temple that was razed to the ground less than 40 years later), and his divine judgement is still to come. So it makes sense to practise truth at every opportunity, at home and in business - however inconvenient it may be for the spin doctors ... because it will keep your moral compass true for whatever the world, flesh or Devil may throw at you. It will also enable you to be an 'early responder' when God calls you to witness for Him.
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank You for being the Truth, and for calling me to live and speak the truth. It is not easy to stay sharp for You every day, and I ask Your forgiveness when I have bent the truth for convenience or profit. Help me to be known as a person of truth, to Your glory and to the blessing of those I work and live alongside. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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