The first trial
John 18:19-27
19 Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. 20 Jesus answered, ‘I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said.’ 22 When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, ‘Is that how you answer the high priest?’ 23 Jesus answered, ‘If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?’ 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, ‘You are not also one of his disciples, are you?’ He denied it and said, ‘I am not.’ 26 One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, ‘Did I not see you in the garden with him?’ 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed.
Jesus responds to the questioning by stating, “You make your case, I did nothing in secret, you bring out the witnesses against me.” In other words, “I will not at this point implicate myself, you need to do the work to prove your case.” Jesus, while knowing how this will all end, still pushes for a fairer trial. Because in a fair trial Jesus would not be convicted.
Around the world Jesus’ followers are wrongly accused and face unfair trials. Jesus walks with them, walks with all those who are arrested on false charges, all those who are convicted by unjust courts.
Jesus is slapped in the face for this challenge to the judge (the high priest), but again Jesus puts the onus on the other side. “What have I said that was wrong?”, Jesus asked. Jesus here again invites his followers when they are treated badly to ask why they are receiving this treatment. To be prepared to hole the other side accountable for their actions. To do so respectfully, but to do it nonetheless. This requires courage.
In contrast to Jesus’ courage, Peter completely buckles under the pressure and twice more denies Jesus. Even denies being a follower of Jesus to a relative of the man whose ear he cut off. The cock crows – three denials.
Again, Jesus’ words show up the injustice of what is taking place, a resistance through speech, not of violence as Peter had demonstrated earlier. Using words seems so weak in comparison to swords and guns. But the promise from Jesus is that the Holy Spirit will give us the words that we need when we need them, and it is God’s word that brings about the transformation of the world.
PRAYER:
God of truth and might, keep us loyal to your word, give us courage to speak the words you give to us. Give us the assurance that you will walk with us when we are wrongly accused and with others when they are wrongly accused, we thank you for the example of your Son Jesus, our sacrificial warrior of peace. Amen.