Daily Devotional for Saturday, November 11

False Witness

“And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none. For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together,” Mark 14:55, 56.

From the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, He had opposition from many and they looked for opportunities to take him. Jesus stood before the rulers at the given time that was appointed by God. They did not find any who could speak against Him because their stories did not agree. That is one sure sign of someone telling lies: stories not agreeing. It is hard to say the same lie twice.

God is a God of truth and one thing He hates is lies. “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). This is the ninth commandment. In Proverbs 6:16, 17, God declares a lying tongue an abomination to Him. Abomination means something morally disgusting. The New Testament says to be honest in the sight of all men (Romans 12:17).

Jesus only sought to please the Father and in doing so, He upset others. The Jews, rulers and citizens alike wanted to destroy Jesus not for anything He had done wrong, but some thought He was going to take away their authority, and others thought He blasphemed God. Notice Jesus’ reaction to these false allegations. He spoke nothing. Jesus did not try to defend Himself. If there was one person who could, it would be Jesus.

Peter says this was for an example. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:21-23).

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: Jesus is the perfect example of how actions and words should be. In Him you can act in the Spirit instead of the flesh.

Karry Irizarry