Under Trial

Under Trial
Words of Faith 4-10-24
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2024
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

Mark 14
[55] The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. [56] Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
[57] Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: [58] "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this man‑made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.' " [59] Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
[60] Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" [61] But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"
[62] "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

Jesus gives us a powerful example of how to respond under trial. When attacked by false accusers or persecutions, should one speak or not? The example of Jesus teaches us that sometimes it is better to be silent but at other times telling the truth is the point of the trial. Here we have a guide.

When Jesus was falsely accused, he gave no answer. False testimony needs no repudiation. Answering false charges often serves only to dignify those charges. Lies do not need to be answered because arguments in such cases serve little purpose. Such accusers are not open to changing their minds. Persecutors often hang themselves in their own accusations because they tend to overstate and exaggerate their points.
Here, the truth had been twisted to the point of stupidity: "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this man‑made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.' " The false testimony did not even agree. Why enter in? Conversation with such people will lead nowhere. Silence is golden. When we hear gossip or accusations that sound ridiculous or extreme, we should recognize that we may be listening to a vicious accuser rather than a speaker of truth.
But when Jesus was asked a question, he answered. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
When asked to give a statement of truth or to testify to the truth of God, we are to speak. Jesus even assured us that He will give us the words we need.
Have you been under trial? Attacked by a false accusation? Or should you be, there is no need to answer. Have you been asked for the truth? Speak up clearly.

Lord, should I come into a time of trial, give me the wisdom to be silent and the grace to speak at just the right times. Give me words that speak the truth in love. In Jesus' name, Amen.

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< ><> <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SUBSCRIPTIONS - To receive the Words of Faith devotion five days a week, send an e-mail message addressed to join-words-of-faith@hub.xc.org. To stop receiving Words of Faith, send an e-mail message addressed to unsubscribe-words-of-faith@hub.xc.org. The daily devotion and archive are posted at https://www.faithfellowshipweb.com/blog
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2024 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.