The Accuser of the Brethren!

 

The Accuser of the Brethren!

Michael Van der Vebb, Trumps impeachment lawyer, was on CBS news condemning the House managers for doctoring the evidence against Trump and getting caught when some of that evidence was exposed to be false. One of the pieces of evidence was a tweet on January 6 of a supporter talking about bringing in the cavalry to help fight for the president. They tried to use this as a response to the supposed provocation of the President for the riot at the capitol! However they failed to check with the person who wrote the tweet, who was a Christian and actually wrote about sending in the “Calvary”.  It was an obviously play on words and she said later she was talking about the crucifix and a spiritual fight. Calvary and cavalry are close in spelling but with entirely different meanings. One refers to a regiment of soldiers and the other to the place where Christ was crucified! The house managers were trying to imply that his followers where there to fight and cause an insurrection when the author no doubt was talking about prayer and spiritual warfare. Do we honestly believe that these people cant read; or were they indeed doctoring the evidence to accuse the president.

Interestingly, this tactic of twisting ones words was used to try to crucify Jesus. The Jews asked Jesus what sign did he show to prove he was Messiah and he said “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” He of course was referring to his body and His death and Resurrection:

“But He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had said.“ John 2:21-22

The temple he was referring to was his body and he knew that they would destroy it by whipping it, disfiguring it and killing it and putting it on the cross until he died. But he also knew that three days later that same body would be raised from the dead. The Jews however, thought he was referring to the Jewish temple and thus would cause an insurrection. (Sound familiar?)

The religious leaders had already decided to kill him because according to them, he had broken the Sabbath (John 5:18). So when he was arrested they now had their opportunity. At his trial they would bring false witnesses and used his own words about the temple as an excuse to kill him:

"The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” 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!” Matt. 26:59-63

One of the Ten Commandments is that you shall not bear false witness! The Mosaic code went on to say that every fact shall be established by two or more witnesses so that it would not be one man's word against the other. But the Pharisees circumvented this law by paying false witnesses to accuse Jesus. This failed however because their testimonies didn't agree (they couldn't get their stories straight!) (Mark 14:55).

Witnesses can sometimes be unreliable, so the best option for a conviction even today, is to try to get a confession or at least to use ones own words to convict them. This is why Jesus was grilled so much by Pilate and the Sanhedrin priests. But Pilate, after talking to him could not find any evidence that Jesus was a threat to the governing powers of Judea and wanted to let him go so he remanded him back to the Jewish leaders. However, when Jesus stood before the chief priests and Sanhedrin council and the false witnesses didn't work, they sought a confession and asked him outright “Are you the Christ (Messiah)?” Jesus confessed truthfully: 

“ I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

The High Priest tore his robe and now could charge Him with Blasphemy!

"The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned him as worthy of death.” Mark 14: 61-64

Blasphemy was an offense punishable by death:

“Anyone who blasphemes the name of the LORD must be put to death.” Lev.24:16

This was a false charge however because Jesus had not blasphemed God! He was simply saying He WAS the Messiah!

Satan is called the “Accuser of the brethren” (Rev.12:10) and that it why there is such a move today to falsely accuse Trump and his supporters or anyone that disagrees with the left. It is a Satanic spirit being used by politicians and the media and they sadly often use false narratives to achieve their goals. Christians now are being falsely accused and persecuted for their conservative stance and we must not be surprised to see an increase of this. Jesus said:

“Remember what I told you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” John 15:20

As an Antichrist spirit grows in the world there will be greater false accusation and a twisting of our words to condemn us. But as the darkness gets darker, don't let the light get dimmer. Do not shrink back or hide under a bushel, but do as our Lord did. Speak the truth in love and remember that if we confess him before men, He will confess us before the father and all heaven. And if the false accusations come, remember that "If God is for you, who can be against you?"