“Trying to get rid of the evidence”

By Rev. Michael Stonhouse

Meditation – Tuesday, September 13, 2022

John 12:9-19 (Forward, p. 46) CEV p. 1118

It is a tactic attempted by countless wrongdoers over the centuries, that of trying to destroy, hide or otherwise get rid of incriminating evidence. Criminals have certainly resorted to this tactic on numerous occasions, but so too have certain leaders and people in positions of authority--by offering dubious or confusing reports and explanations, by creating new ‘facts’, or by shredding documents and erasing compromising audio tapes or emails. In a sense, it was what King David did with regards to his affair with Bathsheba. By eliminating Uriah from the scene, there would be no credible witnesses (other than his staff, who could be expected not to ‘spill the beans’) to what had gone on.

And indeed, is this not also what the ‘powers that be’ attempted to do after Jesus’ resurrection when they bribed the guards at Jesus’ tomb to say that the disciples had come in the night and stolen Jesus’ body while they slept.

Here in today’s account it is the chief priests who are pondering use of this tactic. They are planning to kill Lazarus, partially because he is the visible, tangible and irrefutable evidence of Jesus’ power and partially because all sorts of people were turning away from them and putting their faith in Jesus. And so it was important to stage some sort of cover-up.

Today, this tactic has often taken on a new twist. In one sense, it is actually a twist as people take the Scriptures and their evidence and twist it, distort it, to say something other than its plain and ordinary meaning--or to take something entirely foreign from it.

There is one other thing that moderns often do, and that is simply to ignore the available evidence—that is, refuse to look at it, deal with it, and come to a conclusion based on it. In other words, it is like the old saying, ‘My mind is made up; don’t confuse me with the facts.’

All of this, when it comes to Jesus, is rather sad, because it means that those who resort to such tactics will probably lose out in the end on what wonderful things God has to offer them in Jesus Christ. My prayer to that this might not happen with anyone that we know. Amen.

Forward notes: “Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it” (verse 14).

“The Trinity Retreat Center is described as a ‘refuge of healing, peace, joy, and spiritual formation amid the forests, rivers, and farmland of West Cornwall, Connecticut.’ That is an apt description, and it’s true not just for humans but also for the rescue donkeys at the Retreat Center. Until I spent time with the staff and the donkeys there, I did not know that these humble creatures have a cross on their back. The cross is dark hair that runs down the donkey’s spine and across its shoulders. Once you’ve seen the cross, it’s unmistakable. Donkeys are not flashy animals, but they are more sure-footed than horses. They are famous for forming strong friendships with other creatures. They can be very affectionate and can even help humans as a kind of farmhand—herding and also protecting sheep and goats.

“When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday on the back of a donkey, it was a sign of peace. What else is Jesus teaching us today when we reflect on our redeemer’s choice of a donkey for his entrance into Jerusalem?”

Moving Forward: “Do some research about donkeys. Why do you think Jesus chose a donkey for his entrance into Jerusalem?”