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Apr 13, 2023 18:30pm

The Truth Offends

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As the U.S. tried to fill a vacant seat on the Supreme Court, interviews were conducted to learn more about the nomination from President Joe Biden. During one of those interviews, nominee Kentaji Brown Jackson was asked to give the definition of a woman. However, she declined and said she did not know and could not answer that.

I’m not exactly sure what was going through Mrs. Jackson’s mind as she was making that statement. I can only imagine that since she was in the “hot seat” as we say, that she realized all eyes and ears were on her. Why could she not give a definition of a woman? She herself is a woman.

Who was she afraid of offending?

Instead of answering with truth, she chose to just not answer. Which, in truth, is an answer in itself.

“And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders, And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me. And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed. And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.” (Mark 11:27-34)

Jesus knew the hearts of these men. They were trying to trap him in their questions. So, Jesus chose to ask them something similar, turning the tables on them, requiring them to consider how they would answer.

As the men debated amongst themselves for the right response, they knew there was no way to win. If they said Heaven, why wouldn’t they believe in John the Baptist? Why did they disclaim him? They didn’t try to stand up for him or get him released from prison. But, if they said of men, they would face the wrath of the people. The people believed John was a prophet of God and to go against that would be “suicide” with the approval from the people.

So, instead of humbling themselves and speaking the truth, they didn’t want to offend, and they chose not to answer.

The day is here my friends. We will be asked, and if we give the TRUTH, we will offend. This world wants nothing to do with Jesus because it offends the flesh.

There is truth. It is the Word of God. If they knew it, it would set them free from the bondage and death of their sins. Let us be ready to always give an answer for the hope that is within us! The truth may hurt, it may offend, but it is the truth. May we speak it in love and grace to those that are broken and in desperate need.