Telling the Truth

“On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, ‘Is it not written: "My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations”? But you have made it “a den of robbers."’

The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.” (Mark 11:15-18 NIV)

Jesus sure knew how to spoil the mood.  A day earlier He had entered Jerusalem triumphantly with crowds of people cheering Him on.  Now here He is creating havoc in the temple courts.  

Didn’t He realize He would provoke the Jewish authorities and perhaps risk His reputation among the common people?  I’m sure He did, but He had a higher calling—to tell the truth.  And the truth was nothing spiritual was really going on in the temple courts.  Instead, unscrupulous men had a lucrative racket going there.  They were selling animals with which to make sacrifices at greatly inflated prices.  And Jesus called them out.  They were robbing people!  Of course, this did not sit well with the religious authorities and they began a plan to get Him out of the way.  

Telling the truth to people is always risky and is why we are so reluctant to do it.  You have a friend who is repeatedly falling into sin.  While she says she is a follower of Jesus, her actions are in direct contradiction to her claims.  Do you confront her?  Or you have a boss who goes to church every Sunday and leads a Sunday school class, but treats you and the other employees badly.  Do you say anything?   What if you have a friend who becomes engaged to someone not following Jesus?   Do you let it go or do you tell the truth?  

Because He was the Truth, Jesus didn’t hesitate to tell it, regardless of the risk.  He wasn’t ever worried about offending people by telling the truth.  While this is a difficult model for us to follow, it is one we should strive to emulate because truth-telling is actually a demonstration of love.  We care so much for a person that we want them to know the truth.  As Jesus did with the woman at the well (John 4), and with the woman caught in adultery and the men who accused her (John 8), telling the truth offers the opportunity for repentance and to be set free from the sin that so easily entangles.  

As I look back over my early life with the Lord, I wish more of my friends had been bold enough to tell me the truth about some of my behaviors and choices.  By fearing they would offend me, in the purest sense they were being unloving toward me, because love is wanting what’s best for the person.

Today, consider if there is someone for whom you care deeply who needs to hear the truth.  The most loving thing you can do is to tell them.  

© Jim Musser 2015