March 11, 2026 – Lent Text: Zechariah 8:14-17
Dear Friends in Christ,
Recently I served as a juror in a court of law. Every witness swore they were going to tell the truth. They have dropped the “so help me God” part, which they should put back in. I saw a lot of lying. The most egregious was the felon who came in handcuffs. We watched a video of him saying one thing and he gets in the witness box and everything he said, he denied. There was a lot of baloney bouncing off the walls of the McLean County Courthouse the week of January 19th.
God is the Father of truth, he hates lies. Satan is the father of lies, he hates truth. Lies destroy reputations, steal property, cost lives, and damn to hell. God wants us to tell the truth, not just when under oath. He expects us to tell . . .
“THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH”
During centuries of rebellious behavior, including rampant lying, the Lord had refrained from punishing Israel with the full force of his fury. But he eventually resorted to sterner measures. The walls of Jerusalem came crashing down. Israel’s upper classes were marched off to exile, where for 70 years they could reflect on God’s truth they had long ignored.
The Lord relents and the exiles return home. Zechariah announced that the Lord is determined to do good again to Israel, but he also expects to see changed behavior. They are to practice truth in relationships and in their institutions. Five centuries after Zechariah delivered this truth, were the people listening?
While this text is not a direct prophecy of Holy Week it does point to the lack of truth in the courtrooms of the Sanhedrin, Pontius Pilate and Herod. They used false evidence and false witnesses to convict. Did they speak the truth to each other? No, they were all about personal gain. Reminds us of our politicians, doesn’t it? Did they render sound judgments? No, the case against Christ was predetermined. Did they swear falsely? Yes.
God hated the disregard for the truth during Holy Week. He hates the disregard for the truth today. Can our society agree on anything? The manipulating blowhards of our day must sadden the Savior. We do not like it when people lie to us. Leaders, lawyers, lenders or lovers, it does not matter. We trust those who can tell the truth.
We want to tell the truth, the whole truth, and doing but the truth. Answer these truthfully in your head. Did you do your homework? Did you take your medicine? Did you report all your income on your tax return? Is your mind wandering during this sermon? Not easy, is it?
Amen means “that’s the truth. I believe it.” Are you telling the truth each time you pray the Lord’s Prayer that you will keep his name holy, you prefer his will to your own, you forgive those who have hurt you and you are happy with daily bread and no more?
Sometimes the truth hurts. It hurt Jesus to tell the truth. Not because he lied, because he never did, it hurt because he knew by telling the truth what would happen next. He said he was the Son of God and gets convicted of blasphemy. He gets sentenced to death. He tells the truth to Pontius Pilate and Barabbas gets released. Doesn’t seem fair.
The Bible contains many truths that are difficult to believe. People stumble over a six-day creation, a Red Sea parting, virgin birth, walking on water, healing the sick. We did not witness them and so we can struggle. The other reason is because the Father of lies twists these words of the Bible into a pretzel. Gaslighting is when someone manipulates you by telling you not to believe what your eyes see, and your ears hear. We could dub the devil the Chief Gaslighter.
Listen again to the beginning of our text, “As I purposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the Lord of hosts, so again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and the house of Judah; fear not.” (vs. 14-15)
The Lord did what he promised. He brought the people back and restored their temple. He was true to his Word: The Messiah came to the temple, then was laid on the altar of the cross to atone for all sins, including every lie that you and I have ever told.
What are we to do? Again, the text. “Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another and love no false oath.” (vs. 16-17)
Rejoice in the truth of your absolution. Rejoice in the truth that God forgave you. Speak the truth of your pardon upon the cross. In other words: the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Help me do this, Lord.
Amen.