The story ignited social media. A well-known public figure was being accused of a heinous crime. The evidence was incontrovertible, nonetheless, the pundits took sides. Predictably, his enemies lambasted him while His allies rallied to support him. Some neutral parties pointed out that his allies were attempting to shift the discussion. Instead of focusing upon the crime, they conjured a third party and postulated that they were the real culprit who manipulated events to make it appear it was solely his crime alone. It worked. After a few days, social media sites dropped the story and silenced the rants and postings of his enemies.
They were changing the narrative.
This happens whenever one is confronted with an uncomfortable truth that does not agree with one’s sensibilities or expectations. It could be a scandal involving a celebrity or politician or our own personal views. We clamor for the truth but is the absolute truth really what we want to hear or do we simply want to hear a truth that is in line with our expectations?
In this passage from the Gospel of John, Jesus had just performed a miracle and restored the sight of a man who had been blind from birth. The Jewish leaders and priests saw the blind man and verified with his parents that he had been blind from birth. Unable to dismiss the miracle, they attempted to change the narrative and claimed that Jesus was a sinner, performing these miracles by the power of Satan. They pressed their point with the healed blind man who responded with this stinging rebuke.
So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner.” He then answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”
John 9:24-25 (NASB)
Jesus did many miracles during His three years of ministry. All of them were proof of His Divine nature and power. Yet, his enemies still doubted Him and attempted to change the narrative. On the Cross, He was performing the greatest miracle of all, taking all of the sins of mankind for all eternity and receiving the full punishment for it on our behalf. He died and three days later, He was resurrected. He conquered death yet there were still doubters. The Jewish elders and priests knew His grave was empty but concocted a story that would change the narrative.
Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble.” And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.
Matthew 28:11-15 (NASB)
Changing the narrative. It did not work with the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and it does not work with today’s scandals.
We hunger for the Truth. Jesus Christ is the Truth. Are we willing to accept Him?
Your salvation and eternal destiny depend upon it.
Amen!
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
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