Court cases make headlines! We South Africans know that only too well.
During the past year, weve had the doubtful privilege of having two sensational murder cases exposed to the media. While we all wanted to see justice done, we differed among ourselves as to what this should be. We picked holes in the defence counsel, the prosecuting authority, the witnesses and even the judges. We all want to see criminals brought to justice and appropriately punished for their misdeeds. We feel indignant when a criminal gets off on a technicality, or if a trial seems unfair.
Justice was a much simpler matter during Old Testament times, when the nation of Israel journeyed through the wilderness. God was the judge and Moses was the mediator.
On one occasion a fight broke out between two Israelite men, and one of them blasphemed the Name of the Lord with a curse. The offender was brought to Moses for judgment and kept in custody until God pronounced sentence. The entire community was to stone him to death. (Leviticus 24:16). The judgement here was uncomplicated. Clearly God regarded blasphemy in a very serious light.
This may seem a harsh judgment to some of us in the free thinking 21st century, but the Israelites were without excuse. Gods presence was with them visibly in the form of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
As Jesus preached about the Kingdom of God, many who listened to him were wondering if he was the long expected Messiah. The Sanhedrin and other religious authorities became alarmed at the following he was gaining. If the people believed him to be the Messiah, it could seriously threaten their [the Pharisees] comfortable relationship with the Roman rulers. As blasphemy was deserving of the death sentence, the Jewish religious authorities were going to push this line in securing a conviction. He had after all, openly referred to God as his Father – enough to raise the hackles of those zealous for the law.
If you are the Christ…
At the Feast of Dedication, Jesus was conversing with them in the temple area. They were trying to get him to tell them plainly if he was the Messiah, even picking up stones while he spoke. He skilfully side-stepped their questioning, asking instead for which of the miracles they were stoning him. We are not stoning you for any of these, but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God, they replied (John 10:33). Jesus escaped unharmed. His time had not yet come.
When he was finally arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin, the high priest charged him under oath to tell them if he was the Messiah. Being under oath, Jesus was obliged to answer, so he said, yes, it is as you say… Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, he has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? (Matthew 26:65). The judge no doubt, felt greatly relieved. They didnt need further evidence as the prisoner had incriminated himself.
It is significant that the high priest tore his clothes. Josh McDowell explains:
1The law forbade the high priest to rend his garment in private troubles (Leviticus 10:6 and 21:10), but when acting as a judge, he was required by custom to express in this way, his horror of any blasphemy uttered in his presence1.
But they had to take the prisoner before the Roman governor to have the death sentence enforced. Pontius Pilate could find no reason to sentence him. Why, what crime has he committed? he asked. I find no basis for a charge against him (Matthew 27:23, John 18:38). Finally he gave in to their demands and handed Jesus over for crucifixion. It was all about who he claimed to be. Jesus claimed to be God.
And so ended a court case unique in history. It was all about the identity of the accused, not about something he had done.
Many people of various cultures and faiths agree that Jesus was a great teacher, or a prophet or an extremely good man. It is only when we recognize His identity as God incarnate that we can have a fully satisfying personal relationship with him.
Jesus wants every person on the planet to have a personal relationship with him. He told us in no uncertain terms on a number of occasions. On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood up and said in a loud voice: If a man is thirsty let him come to me and drink (John 7:37). And again, Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).
The invitation is out, we know Who its from and its up to us to respond.
1. More than a carpenter (Josh McDowell Kingsway Publications 1979) page 23