Have you ever been accused of something you didn’t say or do? It feels creepy to  walk innocently into a room of people and all eyes are suddenly upon you.  You hear previous chatter suddenly stop and the room gets oddly quiet when you enter.  It’s weird and eerily disconcerting as you look at yourself and wonder what is unzipped or unbuttoned, right?! 

These people, who you only know as acquaintances, attempt to disarm you as they judge and size you up with looks and murmurs without really knowing who you are.  They assume they know and think the worst without really listening to you.  They presume you are against them so they begin a silent fight—before they begin a relationship with you. 

It seems to be the nature of humans to put each other down with “he said/she said” slanderous comments in order to gain the power and the advantage before “the accused” can speak.  We are sometimes put on the defense for mere assumptions and presumptions in a game we didn’t know we were playing. 

No, these behaviors are not fair.  Yes, we still do that to each other. 

Jesus understands. 

Mattthew 26, The Message

False Charges

^57-58 The gang that had seized Jesus led him before Caiaphas the Chief Priest, where the religion scholars and leaders had assembled. Peter followed at a safe distance until they got to the Chief Priest’s courtyard. Then he slipped in and mingled with the servants, watching to see how things would turn out.

^59-60 The high priests, conspiring with the Jewish Council, tried to cook up charges against Jesus in order to sentence him to death. But even though many stepped up, making up one false accusation after another, nothing was believable.

^60-61 Finally two men came forward with this: “He said, ‘I can tear down this Temple of God and after three days rebuild it.’”

⁶² The Chief Priest stood up and said, “What do you have to say to the accusation?”

⁶³ Jesus kept silent.

Then the Chief Priest said, “I command you by the authority of the living God to say if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

⁶⁴ Jesus was curt: “You yourself said it. And that’s not all. Soon you’ll see it for yourself:

The Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Mighty One,
Arriving on the clouds of heaven.”

^65-66 At that, the Chief Priest lost his temper, ripping his robes, yelling, “He blasphemed! Why do we need witnesses to accuse him? You all heard him blaspheme! Are you going to stand for such blasphemy?”

They all said, “Death! That seals his death sentence.”

^67-68 Then they were spitting in his face and knocking him around. They jeered as they slapped him: “Prophesy, Messiah: Who hit you that time?”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

There is a time to be silent and a time to speak.  Speak Truth in God’s timing.

Peter was not where Jesus told him to be and would soon deny he knew Him.  But Jesus will forgive Peter and still guide Him to fulfill His purpose and mission.

From the beginning, the religious leaders assumed the worst of Jesus because they feared the loss of power and authority over an already oppressed people. 

The religious leaders hated Jesus’ popularity.  They taught strict adherence to man-made rules that went beyond God’s Law of love and relationship He desired with Him and for each other. 

Jesus came to earth to not only teach but to demonstrate God’s love, provide a way for mankind to reconcile their relationship with God as he sought out the lost without God.  This love was unbelievable and incomprehensible by the religious leaders.  The people had never heard a preacher like this or experienced a kind of love like He exuded from every part of His being. 

Yes, all because of this love, the Love of God, Jesus showed us that God’s love would cover a “multitude of sins” as we relate to God and each other. Our relationship with God trumps rules that have no bearing on our love for each other.  They are just rules made by men who want power to push people around.

It is no wonder their presumptions and assumptions lead them to hate Who they do not know.

Lord,

We are all sinners in need of a Savior.  We repent of assumptions and presumptions that shut others out of families, churches, and our places of business.  Cleanse our hearts.  Transform our thinking.  Refresh and feed our souls with all of who you are.  Restore the joy and peace of your salvation at work within us that loves like you love us—unconditionally, relentlessly, graciously, and mercifully.  Take away all the assumptions and presumptions we have toward others for that offends you.  Thank you for saving our souls and making us whole—all because of your love for us.

In Jesus Name, Amen