February 16 Really?

John 17:50-8:1 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51 “Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?” 52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.” 53 Then each went to his own home. 8 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.  
 
WE don’t really know what’s true, do we? Listen to different news broadcasts, for example, and you hear different versions of a news event. We receive tidbits of information. Much is half-true or untrue. A common sin is to falsely accuse others with innuendo and gossip. And self-serving “experts” even use untrue when testifying in court. I heard once of an “expert” who testified with “scientific evidence” that a fire, which murdered three children, was arson. It in fact, each point of his testimony was shown to be false generalities. Sadly, the false testimony sent an innocent man to his execution.
   Sander is deadly. Do you want to ruin or destroy someone? Just start some gossip. Post a lie on social media, and you will succeed. Our human mind is prone to focus on others’ faults. Pridefully, we proclaim an opinion as true. We want to be the “expert”.  
   False “experts” spoke that day in the temple court. Before the Lord, who is Truth, the Jewish authorities spoke with false authority to negate the truth. First, these men who condemned Jesus’ “unlawful” healings and teachings, denied the lawful pursuit of truth: Deuteronomy 1:16 And I charged your judges at that time: Hear the disputes between your brothers and judge fairly, whether the case is between brother Israelites or between one of them and an alien. Nicodemus urged them to follow the law they professed to defend. But they ridiculed Nicodemus with a lie.
   That lie is their claim, “a prophet does not come out of Galilee.” In fact, the prophet Jonah had come from Galilee. And each tribe of Israel had produced a prophet. Their arrogant question was designed to silence Nicodemus’ voice of reason and order. Remember that Nicodemus plays a key role in John. He is the Pharisee who came so eagerly to learn the truth from Jesus in John 3. He is not allowing gossip, slander and “false facts” to negate the Jesus’ identity. He wants to know the truth, believing Jesus came from God. (John 3:2)
   Satan’s deceit is on the prowl here. The Jews’ sin-filled hearts sought to uproot the growing faith seeds in Nicodemus’ heart and mind. Nicodemus is a good example for us. We must stand against loud liars to courageously speak what is right.
   Be careful about what you hear and accept as truth. Sift through the daily information. Most pours from people with self-serving agendas. Understand “the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6) Receive it and be true to God for God’s people.
 
Prayer: Remind me, Holy Spirit, to pursue and know, “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right” (Philippians 4:8a) In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.