In the open or hiding away
John 18:12-30
John’s account of Jesus’ arrest contrasts honesty with corruption, courage with fear, integrity with deviousness, openness with hiding away. Sadly, it is a picture that is repeated across the world today. Those who argue that with increased knowledge and scientific skill humankind has progressively evolved for the better both morally and socially are choosing to ignore the evidence emblazoned across the 24 hour rolling news media. Those in power repeatedly desperately hold on to power, frequently using the power of the media and state to do so. Lying and distortion of truth even false imprisonment, torture and state sponsored killing are common place. We should not fool ourselves into thinking modern western democracies are free from such acts although they may be less common and less explicit. Western governments have frequently supported regimes and opposition groups knowing they adopt such tactics. Jesus deliberately stepped into a situation where he would feel the full force of human hate for the sake of his followers but also in many cases for the sake of those who at the time hated him and plotted his downfall. ‘Jesus knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. v4-5 How does it help us when we experience injustice and hate, to know that Jesus also experienced it and to a greater extent in that he is uniquely the Son of God?