How to Respond to Conflict
With the season coming upon us
where we celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord, I would like
to ask each of you to pause for a moment to reflect on the four
different trials that Jesus was forced to go through. He was tried
first by Annas, then by Caiaphas, then by Pilot, who sent Him to Herod,
and then by Pilot again. Besides not being conducted according to the
"norm" of the day, they were also wrought with false witnesses
and violence. I believe these trials have much they can teach us, and
for today, I would like to specifically look at the lessons we can learn
from how Jesus responded to conflict.
Let's start off in Annas' home:
"the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his
teaching. "I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus replied. "I always
taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together.
I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me.
Surely they know what I said." (John 18:19-21)
When questioned about His
teachings, Jesus calmly reminds them that all of His teachings have been
given in public and encourages them to ask those who heard Him speak.
He doesn't say, "Yes, I taught that!" or "No, whoever told you that did
not understand what I was trying to say." He simply says that those who
heard Him can testify to His teachings. In other words, Jesus'
teachings stand up for themselves! There is no need to defend them, no
need to explain them, no need to deny them. My friends, if what we are
teaching is of God, we also have no need to defend, explain, or deny our
words! Yet how often do we debate what we've said, wasting time in
clarification, interpretation, and sometimes even denial of what we've
been impressed to say? Instead, let us put our faith in what the Holy
Spirit has instructed us to say, ever believing that it is EXACTLY what
is needed for the situation! Let God's Word, spoken through you, stand
for itself!
In the house of Caiaphus the High
Priest, Jesus was falsely accused of saying that He was able to destroy
the temple of God and rebuild it in three days. But when Caiaphas questioned
Jesus as to whether or not it was true, Jesus did not respond!Let's pick
up the story in Matt 26:62:
"Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Are you not going
to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against
you?" But Jesus remained silent."
Notice that Jesus didn't argue that
they hadn't understood His words. He didn't take them back. He didn't
even acknowledge whether or not they were, indeed, His words. He simply
remained silent. How much trouble, my friends, don't we get ourselves
into by constantly trying to defend ourselves, our words, our honor?
Wouldn't it be so much simplier to follow Jesus' example, and in the face
of false accusation, to remain silent as He did?
Following this, Jesus was taken to Pilate. Again, He is accused falsly,
and again, He utters not a word. But then Pilate questioned Him
directly: "Are you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate. "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus
replied." (Mark 15:2)
Why did Jesus respond to Pilate's question and not to the accusations of
the false witnesses? Because Pilate's question touched on truth! He
was the King of the Jews! And though this is the very thing that
infuriated the Jews, Jesus had nothing to hide, nothing
to be ashamed of. We do not need to be ashamed of the truth, my friends!
Yet how often, in the face of confrontation, do we try to "cushion" the
truth to save face or to keep ourselves from getting hurt? Remember
Paul? He was whipped, stoned, thrown in prision, and finally beheaded
because He proclaimed the name of Jesus. Yet he could say: "I am not
ashamed of the gospel" (Rom 1:16). Let us all learn this important
lesson from Jesus. Let us never be afraid to proclaim our faith, no
matter what the Earthly consequences, for we are told: "Rejoice and be
glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they
persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matt 5:12).
Pilot, upon learning that Jesus was from Galilee, sent Him to be tried by
Herod, the ruler of that region. Herod was happy to have the opportunity
to meet Jesus, for he wanted to see Jesus "perform"! "When Herod saw
Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting
to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform
some miracle." (Luke 23:8,90). Herod wanted a show! But he was to
be disappointed, for: "Jesus gave him no answer." (Luke 23:8-10)
Again the silent response, but for a different reason this time! Jesus
wasn't there to entertain the King Herod! He had far more important
things to do. Yet how easily might we have been drawn into Herod's trap?
After all that Jesus had gone through, here at last was someone who wasn't
simply trying to accuse Him falsely, but instead, wanted to see if He was
for real. I'm afraid that my pride might have gotten in my way about
then. Oh, I might have rationalized it by saying that perhaps this would
win his heart for the Lord. But deep down inside, there would have been
an element of pride: "See what the Lord can do through me?" But Jesus
completely avoided any pretense of pride by simply remaining silent.
Friends, let us remember these
all-important lessons today. Let us remember that what the Holy Spirit
prompts us to say needs no further explanation or discussion. It stands
on its own. Let us remember that the best way to deal with false
accusations and mis-understandings is silence. Let us remember that we
don't need to be ashamed of the Lord we serve, and only when His honor is
being questioned must we speak up for what is right. And finally, let's
not fall into the trap of pride. Instead, let's remember that the power
we possess, given to us by the Holy Spirit that resides within, is only to
be used to the glory of God!
Dear
Lord, may I remember these important lessons! Help me to have the courage
to speak out for truth. Help me to not fall into the trap of "defending"
what You have prompted me to say, or refuting false accusations. And
finally help me to know when to be silent, that Your name, and
not my own, may be glorified!
Lyn Chaffart
Director of Mini-Sermons,
Answers2Prayer Ministries
www.Answers2Prayer.org