“A Fake Trial With A Predetermined Verdict!”

“A Fake Trial With A Predetermined Verdict!”(Mt.26:57-75).
(The evidence was so convincing. Everyone in court believed the defendant was guilty and deserved the death sentence. Before the verdict, the judge asked the defendant whether he had anything to say or a request to make? He said he had one question to ask. Though surprised, the judge asked him to go ahead.
He asked, “Where did you say the evidence was taken?” The prosecutor was quick and fluent to respond that it was in a parking garage downtown(he named the place).
The defendant laughed as the incident was flashed on the screen for everyone to see. Then he shocked the court as he stated that the said parking garage was demolished three years earlier. This changed the course of the case).
A seventeenth century proverb says, “Give a dog a bad name to hang him.” This is a negativity bias aimed at tarnishing somebody’s reputation and preventing him from growing. It is happening every day. Some of us have felt its impact such that if we had not developed thick skin, we would have perished! However, nothing happens without God knowing it.
Knowing that evil people could scheme against somebody, accuse him falsely and destroy him, the LORD gave this command: “One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses “(Dt.19:15).
A thorough investigation was required in case a malicious witness took the stand to falsely accuse a man of a crime. If the witness proved to be a liar, giving false testimony, “then do to him as he intended to do to his brother” This was to put fear in people who hear “and never again will such an evil thing be done among you”(Dt.19:16-21).
Unfortunately, it wasn’t so with Jesus. All the religious authorities who sat in judgement against Jesus, “and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death.” This was a travesty of justice because the case was not intended to prove Jesus’ innocence, but rather to justify the reason for passing the death sentence on him! These people hated Jesus with a passion! Jesus was a threat to their comfort zone! He rocked their calm boat in a stormy sea! They knew they were guilty of felony by condemning Jesus.
When the testimony of the two false witnesses failed, the high priest openly declared Jesus to be blasphemous. He “tore his clothes and said, ‘He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy… He is worthy of death.” And the high priest got what he wanted.
In our society today, we know of people languishing in detention, and those who have detained them do not themselves know what those innocent victims have done. Those people are in detention because a king says, “The thing is law because I want it so!”
We have a renowned advocate of peace and justice who has just organised a peace workshop in his chamber. May he and his team be inspired to be vocal as always to address the problem of our porous legal system where might and wealth are right; even when it is clear that they are wrong!
Dear friend, open your eyes wide as you die for the statements of your religious leaders! Before you join the bandwagon to hate somebody, ask yourself, “What wrong do I know of him that deserves my hate?” Do not allow yourself to be recruited to hate someone whom you do not have any reason to blame.
However, when it is in the plan, of God recruited haters will vent their hate lies so that Scriptures is fulfilled!
I am not the first person to wonder why God did not choose another route of salvation, but I am not skilled to understand what God had planned and willed! I am a mere clay in the potters hand and cannot complain why he chose to mould me into the object he desires! May his will, not ours, be done in our lives; no matter what that will is!
Prayer: Holy Spirit, when the world stands against me, be my strength and enable me to depend on God’s will. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
01/04/2026.