Luke 22:66-71: a reflection

66As soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people were gathered together, both chief priests and scribes, and they led him away into their council, saying, 67“If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you won’t believe, 68and if I ask, you will in no way answer me or let me go. 69From now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70They all said, “Are you then the Son of God?” He said to them, “You say it, because I am.” 71They said, “Why do we need any more witness? For we ourselves have heard from his own mouth!”

Brought before the council, Jesus is asked directly: If you are the Christ, tell us. Are you the Son of God? He knows that to confess it will condemn him; the council is seeking grounds to put him to death, and his answer will give them what they want. And yet Jesus does not deny or evade; he confesses the truth: You say that I am. And with that confession, knowing it seals his condemnation, he bears witness to who he truly is, even at the cost of his life.

Notice that Jesus confesses the truth of who he is, though it condemns him. He could have denied it, or evaded the question, to save himself; the council would have had no case. But he would not deny the truth of who he was; he confessed it plainly, though it meant his death. Standing before those who sought his life, Jesus bore witness to the truth, refusing to deny who he was even to save himself. His confession was costly, but true.

That costly confession of the truth is an example for us, though we are rarely called to Jesus' extremity. There are times when confessing the truth, especially the truth of our faith in Christ, is costly, when denying or evading it would be easier and safer. And we can be tempted, to save ourselves, to deny or hide the truth. But Jesus confessed who he was even at the cost of his life. When confessing the truth, especially the truth of your faith, is costly, do not deny or evade it to save yourself; confess it, as Jesus confessed the truth of who he was before those who sought his life. It may be costly to bear witness to the truth; but Jesus bore witness even to death. Do not deny the truth to save yourself; confess it faithfully, whatever the cost, as Jesus confessed before the council, bearing witness to who he was even when it condemned him.

Lord Jesus, brought before the council, you were asked directly if you were the Christ, the Son of God; you knew that confessing it would condemn you, and yet you did not deny or evade, but confessed the truth: you say that I am, bearing witness to who you truly are, even at the cost of your life. Set that costly confession before me as an example, though I am rarely called to your extremity. There are times when confessing the truth, especially the truth of my faith in you, is costly, when denying or evading it would be easier and safer. And I can be tempted, to save myself, to deny or hide the truth. But you confessed who you were even at the cost of your life. When confessing the truth, especially the truth of my faith, is costly, keep me from denying or evading it to save myself; help me confess it, as you confessed the truth of who you were before those who sought your life. It may be costly to bear witness to the truth; but you bore witness even to death. Keep me from denying the truth to save myself; help me confess it faithfully, whatever the cost, Lord, as you confessed before the council, bearing witness to who you were even when it condemned you. Give me courage to confess the truth, whatever the cost.