Commandment # 9 - The Intensity, Kindness, and Humility of Christ's Grace When Facing False Accusers Like Me

I felt particularly struck by the message this week when Darell mentioned that Jesus heard false things and rumors said about him his whole career and that even at His trial were those speaking false witness.

 Those words from Darrell brought to mind 1 Peter 2:23 – “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate, when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

 Peter, in this verse, illustrates how “grace and truth” – (popular Darrell words in the sermon) – deal with false witnesses. Peter shows that Jesus responded to insults and suffering by entrusting Himself to the Judge – to him who “judges justly.”  I find it fascinating that Jesus faces the persecution of false accusations by digging deeper into intimacy with His father ......the JUDGE. 

 I continue to pray that God would fill my person with His presence to the extent that my impulse, when facing insults, persecutions, and false witnesses, would be acute awareness of His presence and in that awareness of His presence that I would find turning and trusting myself to Him and His heart irresistible.

 Along with 1 Peter 2:23 I found myself keeping Philippians 2:5-11 on extended play throughout the sermon (especially the beginning) – “You’re attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ.” Finally, during the message Darrel gave 3 rules for serving as a witness. The third rule he described as “witnesses would have to be the executioner.” When I thought about the false accusations Jesus faced throughout His career (per Darrell) and how false witnesses played a prominent role in His bogus trial, I locked in that a key driver of Jesus’ crucifixion was false witness.

 Knowing that Jesus from the cross forgave His fake/false accusers left me amazed and mystified at the intensity, kindness, and humility of His grace.