Read Luke 22:67-71
I Prefer To Be A Standoff Christian.
After Jesus’s arrest, he was detained. At daybreak, the council of the elders (chief priests and teachers of the law) met together. Jesus was led before them. They asked Jesus if he was the Messiah? Jesus responded, “If I tell you, you won’t believe me.” He said that because he knew the dialogue of questioning had nothing to do in wanting to find the truth. It was all about trying to kill Jesus.
Jesus went on to say, “If I asked you, you would not answer.” In essence, Jesus was saying, if I were to ask you if I was the Messiah you would not answer because it would only expose your hypocrisy. But Jesus went on to say, “But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” Thus Jesus was confirming his Dominion and Authority as prophesied in Deuteronomy 7:13-14 and Psalms 110:1.
So the council asked him, “Are you the Son of God?” Jesus responded, “You say that I am!” Which is interesting. This was the Jewish way of saying, “YES.” But it made it sound as if his accuser were in agreement with him, thus exposing their hypocrisy again.
His response was all they needed to hear in order to proceed with the trial for a conviction to have him killed.
Jesus was the Messiah who loved the world but his accusers wanted nothing to do with him and wished to kill him.
As followers of Jesus, there will be many who will label Christians as very evil people. The love and sincerity of your heart will mean nothing to them.
So, are you willing to follow Jesus even under the worst scrutiny, or false accusations? Or do you want to be a standoff Christian so no one notices you and therefore you won’t have to face any form of persecution. You’ll just hide the TRUTH versus facing the judgment of others.
