The Law is only as righteous as the judge who applies it. Do not expect to receive righteous judgments from unrighteous judges. God intended the Law as a blessing for humanity. It can provide protection for the weak, and restrict the actions of the wicked. Law has shaped human society for the good; however, as with all good gifts from God, the law requires that humanity does its part. To do good, the Law requires people be committed to doing what is right.

Jesus at the very beginning of His ministry was already on trial for His life. His judges were corrupt, unspiritual, power-hungry leaders of the Jewish nation. Even before they charged Him, they decided He must die. Everything that followed is driven by their fear of His power and influence. They hated Him for shining the light of truth upon their wickedness. They determined that He must die.

Jesus healed a man, and they accused Jesus of desecrating the Sabbath. They revealed that the forms and trappings of religion were more important to them than human beings. They would have rather seen people suffer than have their own power and control threatened. They were not interested in the truth, they were interested only in achieving what they wanted. They wanted to see Jesus dead and forgotten.

In any trial, truth should matter. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). To know Him is to know Truth. His judges do not want to know the truth and they do not want the truth known. By Old Testament legal tradition, a person’s self-testimony was not accepted as valid truth in court. When Jesus said “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true,” He reveals He knows their plan. His judges were so perverse they would use a technicality to label the truth a lie; they would hide the truth rather than reveal it.

Jesus still demands a verdict: we choose to embrace the truth or live a lie.