It seems most of the people in our world today work harder to keep what they truly believe a secret than openly admitting it.  We like to “play it safe, close to the vest.”  This seems to be at the heart of most politicians today.  We are tired of politicians who say one thing but do another.  Trust in broken.  We vote for our choice so that our choice will do what we want done.  But this is hard when the truth of what they believe is hidden—until they are elected and behaviors reflect what the really believe.

It might surprise you, but every one of us has more than once played the part of a politician. The basic definition of a politician is to please the most people as many times as possible so that your power of influence remains intact.  We do care about what others think of us no matter what we say or deny. 

A politically minded person works hard to bring people to some form of agreement to keep the peace.  Truth may get lost as the main priority becomes agreement.  For example, we have learned that to express our basic beliefs in the work place is not acceptable by most employers—especially if you work for the government, public schools, military.  You are hired to do the work without offending, coercing, or promoting your beliefs among your coworkers and those you serve so that your assigned work is done in ways not complicated by division.

We play politics in our families, workplaces, and in our churches without much thought for what is best because we desire peace at all costs. However, that means Truth can be lost in order to please as many people as possible.  Pleasing people is a short-lived power over people that does not end well when Truth is ignored or denied.

I don’t know why these thoughts occur to me as we read how Jesus was interrogated abusively with telling the Truth, but there it is.  Do I deny to play it safe; or openly and eagerly tell the Truth?

John 18, The Message

The Interrogation

^19-21 Annas interrogated Jesus regarding his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered, “I’ve spoken openly in public. I’ve taught regularly in meeting places and the Temple, where the Jews all come together. Everything has been out in the open. I’ve said nothing in secret. So why are you treating me like a traitor? Question those who have been listening to me. They know well what I have said. My teachings have all been aboveboard.”

²² When he said this, one of the policemen standing there slapped Jesus across the face, saying, “How dare you speak to the Chief Priest like that!”

²³ Jesus replied, “If I’ve said something wrong, prove it. But if I’ve spoken the plain truth, why this slapping around?”

²⁴ Then Annas sent him, still tied up, to the Chief Priest Caiaphas.

²⁵ Meanwhile, Simon Peter was back at the fire, still trying to get warm. The others there said to him, “Aren’t you one of his disciples?”

He denied it, “Not me.”

²⁶ One of the Chief Priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?”

²⁷ Again, Peter denied it. Just then a rooster crowed.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jesus is Truth.  He openly speaks Truth to all who will listen.  He is without sin.  He is the opposite of evil so Jesus has never lied to people to get them to do what He wants.  He has not manipulated minds but instead consistently and compassionately points out the difference between good and evil ways to think and behave.  “You have heard it said, but I say to you…”  Jesus is driven by God’s relentless love for us.  Jesus did not provide miracles of healing, demon departures, and rising from death to life to please people momentarily but to glorify God in ways that bring people to God forever!  Jesus was sent to save us from our sins.  Jesus is the Way to Truth who is God who provides eternal Life.  Truth just is—Truth.  You can choose to believe Truth or not.  Truth doesn’t change but Truth changes us who believe.

Peter openly denies Truth.  Peter denies knowing Jesus so that he can safely be near the action.  We want to judge him or give excuses for his denials times three that were predicted by Jesus.  But we are reminded “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”! 

Peter wants stay close, in the courtyard, that surrounds where the Jewish religious leaders hold “court” accusing Jesus.  We understand Peter’s emotions.  He wants to see what will happen to his beloved Friend.  Peter, in panic mode, momentarily forgets Jesus’ words telling them this very act would occur.  But if Peter is too scared to admit he knows Jesus, how will he be able to stop what is happening to Jesus?  Seriously, Peter, what were you thinking.

The bottom line is Peter is disobedient.  Disobedience to God’s Will opens up a Pandora’s box of impure acts of behavior.  Open denial is the opposite of why Peter came to the courtyard in the first place—to somehow protect Jesus.  Peter will learn that he cannot save the Savior.  Only Jesus saves.  This is Truth. This is God’s Plan.  We cannot and should not get in the way of God’s perfect plan.

If we want to be like Jesus, we must speak the Truth with the Love of God leading us.  It was God’s Love that led Jesus to lay down His life willingly and obediently in our place to pay for our sins—not the soldiers, religious leaders, Roman politicians, or Jewish police.  It was Jesus!  “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:8

Paul teaches us about Truth telling based on Love:

“…we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”             Ephesians 4:14-15, NIV

Believe and be saved.  Jesus saves.  Our directive is to point the Way to Jesus by openly telling the Truth with the Love of God flowing from us. 

True Believers persuade others to know Jesus so they can be saved and follow Him.  The politically minded manipulate so that people will follow them.  Know the difference.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way!  Redeemed Peter will tell other believers later…

“God always knew he was going to do this for you. It’s because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.  Now that you’ve cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it. Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God’s living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself!” 1 Peter 1:21-25, MSG 

Lord,

Peter learned some hard lessons.  We all must learn that following you is Life eternal and real Life is sustained by our obedience to You.  Trusting in what you say and what you do is the best way to live in your peace, not like the fleeting peace the world manipulates and attempts to manufactures.  Your gift of sweet peace appears right in the middle of trials that challenge our faith.  I am thankful, grateful for all the lessons you teach and continue to teach me!  Extreme joy does come in the morning after a night of learning!  Trust and obey.  There is no other way for your eternal, unending joy to live in and through us. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen