59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death.
Don’t you just love it when those in positions of authority abuse their authority! The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were just such people. They didn’t like what Jesus was doing and preaching. They were going to be out of jobs, if Jesus kept it up. Their personal position in society was being threatened, and they were going to do anything necessary to prevent that from happening. This meant they were willing to pervert justice by seeking false witnesses against Jesus. We have heard in the news about some police and prosecutors who have finally been caught framing innocent people. Unfortunately, some of those innocent people spent years in jail for a crime they did not commit. Jesus would suffer the cruelest death possible, even though He was innocent, really innocent. He did nothing wrong, nothing. And yet He was framed by the religious leaders. They had no evidence, but that didn’t stand in their way. They made it up. But the amazing thing is, this was known by the Lord and it was part of His plan to solve the sin problem. Next time you feel you are being framed, are you willing to allow space for God to be glorified through your life? Or are you going to demand justice? I have to be honest. If I am on the short end of the justice stick, I want justice at any cost. Jesus was willing to forgo justice for Himself in order for us to get a benefit we could never gain apart from His work. Sometimes injustice can further the Kingdom. Maybe even the injustice that is happening to you.
The Arnold Journey 