Daily Devotion for Tuesday 22nd July 2025

Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.  Jesus answered, ‘I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret.  Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said.’  When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, ‘Is that how you answer the high priest?’  Jesus answered, ‘If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?’  Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Reflection

Today’s reading is sandwiched in between Peter’s denial narrative arc. His friend, teacher and master has been arrested; and for now, Peter has just enough courage to watch at a distance. I wonder if Peter was close enough to hear proceedings.  The Gospel does not record any specific questions from Annas about Jesus’ disciples, but Peter’s blood probably ran cold with fear. No reply is recorded but Jesus tells us in three different ways about the transparency and public nature of His preaching.

Jesus’ next comment is regarding a legal concept called hearsay. Hearsay is second – or third – hand evidence introduced into a trial. In many countries, including the UK, hearsay evidence is inadmissible in criminal trials, except under certain circumstances.

Jesus has no legal advocate, no solicitor or barrister. In modern legal language, He is an unrepresented defendant conducting His own defence. But His request to call first hand witnesses to support His case is dismissed as impertinence, and He is physically assaulted.

Jesus repeats Himself, striving for truth, but no-one there was willing to continue. Perhaps they feared that if Jesus had His way and called witnesses, their case would crumble. In the other Gospels, the trial narrative is longer and includes witnesses whose testimony does not concur.

Controlling truth, controlling free speech and perverting justice are tools of dictators. The infamous Ugandan dictator Idi Amin said: “You have freedom of speech, but freedom after speech that I cannot guarantee you.”

Justice is both a precious and fragile thing. Jesus’ experience of corrupt justice is a reminder to us all that not all places in the world have a system of justice that is fair. Here in the UK, the Law Centres’ Network (LCN) strives to provide equal access to justice for everyone. In my day-job, I have seen the work of such centres and the important advocacy services they provide. And many of us will be familiar with the work of Amnesty International, which campaigns for justice internationally.
 
Prayer

Give us, O God,
the vision which can see Your love in the world
in spite of human failure.

Give us the faith to trust Your goodness
in spite of our ignorance and weakness.

Give us the knowledge
that we may continue to pray with understanding hearts.

And show us what each one of us can do
to set forward the coming of the day of universal peace.