Legal shows are very popular. One of my favorite was ‘Matlock’. It was a TV series about a criminal defense lawyer (Andy Griffith) who would visit the crime scene, scope out the clues everyone had missed, and dramatically reveal the real criminal (usually a killer) at the end of the show.
I wish Jesus had Matlock as His attorney. But Jesus had no attorney for He was destined to die. After Jesus was arrested, for the next 12 hours he was tried 6 times. You heard that right – 6 times before being crucified the following noon. Mark 14:53-65 records the trial before the high priest, Caiaphas, and the Jewish leaders.
The trial of Jesus was a mockery of the judicial system. Yet, in this trial we discover four characters and four responses to a trial. You may not be going through a legal trial… but I’m sure you are going through some trial of life. My hope is you will react to your trial the way Jesus did….
Reaction #1 – Assume you know more than you really know.
This reaction was made by the Jewish leaders. Jesus was already considered guilty before the trial began. They had already decided that Jesus must die. The wrong assumption resulted in the wrong conclusions and wrong actions.
Assumptions are dangerous things. The problem with making assumptions is that we believe they are the truth. We make an assumption, we misunderstand, we take it personally, then we react by sending emotional poison with our words. This creates a whole big drama for nothing. Don’t make assumptions about what you or someone else is going through unless you know the whole story.
Reaction #2 – Lie.
Witnesses lied about Jesus. According to Jewish Law, a death sentence could not be given unless at least two witnesses gave testimony against them (Deuteronomy 17:6). So witnesses were heard to testify against Jesus to find two that agreed. Their testimonies were not only inconsistent, they were false. They lied about Jesus.
When faced with a trial, it is easy to try to take the easy way out and lie. We want so bad to get what we want that we resort to dishonesty. People steal, lie, cheat, or other forms of dishonesty to move from stress to relief. However, the true path to freedom from your trials is truth. To honestly face your situation, tell the truth to others and yourself, is a sure way to expedite any trial. Lying only pushes the trial further down the path.
Reaction #3 – Keep your distance.
Peter continued to follow Jesus, but at a distance. He wanted to know what was going to happen to Jesus. I admire his courage in danger. But I think his best decision would have been to stay with the disciples in safety, just like Jesus warned. But he tried to go alone and that got him in trouble. Rather than the safety of friends, he chose the warmth of enemies. And that led to his denial.
When we face trials it is easy to isolate ourself… or at least feel isolated. We keep our distance from family, friends, and even God. Or we feel isolated and think nobody cares what I’m going through. I want to encourage you to allow your trial to move you closer to people and Jesus. Following Jesus is not easy. It can be difficult and costly. But it is always rewarding. Allow your trial to pull you in closer to Him.
Reactions #4 – Know yourself and Jesus.
This is the best reaction… the reaction of Jesus. Throughout the trial, Jesus said nothing. So the high priest puts Jesus under oath. “Are you the Messiah? Are the Son of the Blessed?” For centuries Jews refused to use the personal name of God. Sometimes they used the term ‘LORD’ or ‘Jehovah/Yahweh’. In the interchange with Moses, God revealed this name as ‘I am’ (Exodus 3:14).
So when Jesus answered, ‘I AM’, He could not be plainer. Not only did He audibly pronounce the name, a name that the Jews had not pronounced for centuries, but He declared that He was God.
Jesus knew that to answer the question was to die, and yet he unhesitatingly made it. And even with the cross a certainty, He still continued to speak with complete confidence of His ultimate triumph. Jesus had courage and confidence because He knew who He was.
You can face your trial with courage and confidence just like Jesus. Allow your trial to help you learn more about yourself – your strengths, your weaknesses, your tendencies. Allow your trial to help you learn more about Jesus. He will be near you in your trials. He’s always there. But sometimes in a trial He feels ever close. But sometimes He feels distance. Each trial you face will reinforce your faith and trust in God’s presence.
The trials of Jesus brought death, but resulted in victory (resurrection). My prayer is your trial will kill all those things that are hurting you (sin, selfishness, etc) and result in your complete victory.
You can read some of my similar posts: How to Handle the Storms of Life, When Bad Things Happen to Good People, What To Do When Tragedy Strikes.