Luke 12:8-12 Confess Christ Before Men
“Also, I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
“And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.”
“Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
Jesus is teaching urgently. This morning, after rebuking the Pharisees for hypocrisy, their hostility is so obvious that even the very air is charged with their indignation. Make no mistake-these men are going to bring Jesus down by any means possible and they don’t care who suffers with him. Many of the religious leaders feel that if they can just eliminate Jesus, all will be well. Who knows when the Romans will also take offense and begin slaughtering Jews for no reason?
While religious leaders are fuming and scheming, Jesus is challenging his disciples. “Also, I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.” At this point, the disciples are likely gazing in confusion. When the disciples began following Jesus, they were entranced by the beauty of his teaching and the purity of his personality. No sacrifice was too much for the privilege of following Jesus and being part of his inner circle. But things are becoming difficult. Now Jesus is speaking as if not only he but also the disciples are going to be on trial. The disciples have never expected anything remotely like this! And now Jesus is threatening to denounce anyone who refuses to bear faithful witness to the angels….to the angels!
If the disciples are worried, Jesus is about to give them even more about which to worry. “And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.” “Blasphemes against the Holy Spirit?” The disciples aren’t even certain who or what the Holy Spirit truly is. Presumably, Jesus has been teaching the disciples that the Holy Spirit is the unseen presence of God, for now Jesus makes a final statement.
“Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” Now the disciples are really worried! Nobody wants to be hauled into the synagogues or before magistrates and authorities. These men have been willing to cast out demons and heal the sick; they have walked long distances to preach about the Kingdom of God. Nobody wants to be interrogated, but it looks as if interrogation is going to come, no matter the circumstances.
It’s too bad that nobody has recorded the rest of Jesus’ explanations. Undoubtedly, Jesus wants to encourage his men, not to discourage them. We might wish that we could hear those explanations. But even without further explanations, these verses have comforted and encouraged believers for thousands of years.
Reading these verses, I am immediately reminded of the many times in my life I have had to face unfriendly critics. As the head of two different mission hospitals, I have weathered many meetings with unfriendly local leaders and politicians. I have been accused of all kinds of misconduct, despite the fact that I have always been innocent. Each time I have needed words or composure, God has graciously given it to me. And each time I have found myself surviving and being encouraged as the Holy Spirit has given me words and courage.
Helen Roseveare was a WEC missionary doctor who served in Belgian Congo as it gained its independence and became Zaire. During the upheavals that followed, roving bands of terrorists descended on the mission hospital and school where Roseveare was working. Roseveare describes a critical situation in which these verses came true. One bright boy realizing that the terrorists would destroy everything in the school room, chose to remain and pretend to be deaf and mute. As the terrorists queried the boy, he kept his hands behind his back, repeatedly making the sign of the cross, taking courage from the Holy Spirit. Not only did the boy save the school supplies, but he also saved numbers of people who had escaped into the jungle.
Today, you might be facing a difficult situation. Perhaps you too are about to undergo interrogation by those who hope to discredit you, even though you have done nothing wrong. Take courage! The same promises Jesus gave the disciples are still available to you. God doesn’t play favorites and the Holy Spirit will help you and give you the words and the courage to face all your troubles.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to trust You and to remember that You are the One who gives us the words and that if we bear witness of You before men, You will tell the angels about us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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