From Perry Mason to Law and Order, when the truth is finally revealed in any courtroom drama because of new evidence; the testimonies of the lying witnesses begin to unravel.  The accusations begin to lose strength.  Confusion sets in with the jury. The judge’s opinion begins to change. Who is telling the truth and who is not?

In any courtroom drama on stage, TV or in the movies, the last few minutes of the episode come to climax and reveal the unraveling of the characters who lied on the witness stand—under God with their hands on His Word.  Usually, the innocent one on trial is finally set free when the truth is revealed!  It makes good drama and drama reflects society. Right? Mm.

Jesus’ time on earth is coming to a dramatic climax.  He is on trial for being Who He is—Son of God, Messiah.  It seems none of His acts of mercy were brought forward as testimony or evidence.  In fact, Jesus is being falsely accused by paid or coerced “witnesses” for criminal acts he did not commit.  Confusion sets in when the religious leaders can’t agree on what to do with Him.  They agree they all want Him dead and gone from their midst.  They also agree it wouldn’t be in good taste to kill Him during the Passover, so they pass him on to Romans in hopes they will do the dirty deed for them. 

In the middle of it all, Jesus is steadfast and resolved to “drink the Cup” of suffering and sacrifice that His Father has assigned to Him as the price that needs to be paid to save us. Jesus is the Way to Truth that gives Life eternal.  Jesus is Truth.  Truth will be crucified for all the sins of the world.  Jesus eventually goes silent as the lies are hatefully spewed and the beatings begin.

For today, as we study the testimony of Matthew; let’s focus on the flawed characters who lives are unraveling as Truth is tried and found guilty as charged: 

Judas, the treasurer of the Twelve, decides to sell Jesus out to the religious leaders looking for some way to bring Jesus down.  Judas, feeling like he made the deal of a lifetime betrays Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, (about $300 in today’s terms).  He soon regrets making this decision, caught by his all-knowing, loving Teacher, realizing that He was indeed an innocent man but it is too late and his life totally comes undone.  Instead of seeking forgiveness, he sees no way out but to commit suicide.  His name will go down in history as “The Betrayer.”

Peter, the impatient, do it before you think about it, protector of the group tries to “save Jesus” by yielding a sword and suddenly cuts off one of the ears of Jesus’ band of men who come to arrest Him in the garden.  Jesus reprimands Peter immediately, heals the ear, and goes peacefully with the soldiers.  Peter does not run away but comes as close as he can, gaining access to the courtyard to hear the shouting and observe the trial proceedings.  He is not where he is supposed to be.  Because he is closer than he should be he is spotted by those who are also near the fire to keep warm.  He denies that he ever knew Jesus not once but three times—just like Jesus said he would.  All he learned from Jesus is coming unraveled as confusion sets in—even though Jesus told him what was going to happen.  Then he remembers…

The other disciples run away in the night to seek protection from the religious leaders and the Roman soldiers.  Their lives, as they once knew it, unravel as they wait in the darkness for news.

The chief priest comes unraveled as Jesus confirms the Truth of being the Son of God.  He calls it blaspheming.  God calls it Truth.  The Chief Priest can’t handle the Truth!

Pilate, a Roman political player of peace at all costs, just wants to wash his hands of the whole thing.

The Crowd that once cheered, “Hosanna,” upon his arrival into Jerusalem will shout “Crucify Him!” a few days later.  Evil instigators were sent out to change the crowd’s opinion of Jesus with lies and slander, shoving their lives into unraveling chaos, blinding their eyes from Truth.

Now, read on…

Matthew 27, The Message

Thirty Silver Coins

^1-2 In the first light of dawn, all the high priests and religious leaders met and put the finishing touches on their plot to kill Jesus. Then they tied him up and paraded him to Pilate, the governor.

^3-4 Judas, the one who betrayed him, realized that Jesus was doomed. Overcome with remorse, he gave back the thirty silver coins to the high priests, saying, “I’ve sinned. I’ve betrayed an innocent man.”

They said, “What do we care? That’s your problem!”

⁵ Judas threw the silver coins into the Temple and left. Then he went out and hung himself.

^6-10 The high priests picked up the silver pieces, but then didn’t know what to do with them. “It wouldn’t be right to give this—a payment for murder!—as an offering in the Temple.” They decided to get rid of it by buying the “Potter’s Field” and use it as a burial place for the homeless. That’s how the field got called “Murder Meadow,” a name that has stuck to this day. Then Jeremiah’s words became history:

They took the thirty silver pieces,
The price of the one priced by some sons of Israel,
And they purchased the potter’s field.

And so they unwittingly followed the divine instructions to the letter.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

As lives around Jesus are unraveling, they are in step with what God said would happen centuries before. 

Pause, pray, reflect…Am I living unraveled or at peace?

• Do I know Truth (Jesus) and follow Truth? —No matter what I hear that is contrary to Truth?
• Do I really believe what God says in His Word really real?  (Hope begins with believing.)
• How many times do I deny Truth when pressed into a corner of complacency?
• Do I wash my hands of circumstances I don’t understand instead of turning to Truth for wisdom?
• Do I believe Truth saved me from my sins—all of them? Or am I still unraveled by my past?
• Do I live in freedom as a redeemed person of Truth, gratefully humbled that I was bought at a great price so that I would not perish but live eternally with God?
• Have I truly repented of my sins to Jesus so that I am reconciled/(connected) to God my Father?
• Is Jesus not only my Savior but now Lord of my thinking, saying and doing?
• Do I believe, really believe that all my sins are remembered no more? 

Truth sets us free to love like Jesus who is the Way, Truth and Life!

Our response?  Believe and be saved.

Lord,

There is much to think about as we read how mankind when through an unraveling crisis of faith while You went about doing what You were sent to do.  Thank you for saving us and making us whole again.  We are no longer sinners undone and unraveled by our sins because of what you did for us during those hours of trial and beatings followed by the excruciating pain of nailing our sins to your cross.  Oh Lord, there are not enough words to thank you for my release from the punishment I deserve.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Thank you for being Truth in a world of lies.

In Jesus Name, Amen