Beyond A Reasonable Doubt

Why do you suppose is it that, faced with the same data, some people interpret it one way and some people interpret it another? You have only to look at the George Floyd riots – and the other ones later that year - to know that. Not even exhaustive investigations convince people whose minds are already made up. Many even jump to conclusions well before the evidence is collected. Far too often, people simply believe what they want to believe. They believe what their experience or worldview predisposes them to believe. And they read only the sources that agree with them, no matter how much evidence there may be for the other point of view.

Some people think that all truth exists only in our minds, in our responses to words or events. You’ve heard them; reality is subjective, everything is relative, whatever works for you. And there’s some evidence to back up that view. There are such things as self-fulfilling prophecies: If you think you’re going to fail, chances are you will. Or if you expect people to like you, chances are they will. And I’m sure you all have heard stories of people in primitive cultures who, once they’ve heard they’ve been cursed, have laid down and died.

But I don’t think that means reality is subjective. I just think it means that how we use our minds is very important. I think it means that being sincere in our beliefs is not enough. I think it means that what we believe should be based on good evidence, carefully evaluated. Because what we believe has life or death consequences, not only for ourselves but for others.

Let’s suppose you’re the prosecuting attorney, you have a good case, a passion for justice, and an understandable interest in maintaining a good win/loss record.

How would you choose a jury? Would you pick gullible people? People who’ll believe anything if it’s presented cleverly enough? Or would you pick stubborn people, people whose biases will keep them on your side no matter what kind of evidence or argument the defense offers?

I don’t think so.

Those kinds of juries might come up with a verdict that will win out for a short time. But I don’t think they’d come up with a verdict that would stand up to the test of time, that would make it through the appeals process, or pass the test of history.

If you want a verdict that will last, get solid, ordinary, capable people who are a maybe a little skeptical, but who are willing to look at the evidence, weigh it, test it, and act on it. People like Jesus’ disciples.

Let’s look in on them, there in a locked room in Jerusalem that evening. It’s the day after the Sabbath. They could go back about their normal daily routine again... except they don’t have any. They’ve left their jobs, their families. They’ve spent three years following a radical rabbi around the Palestinian countryside, and he has been executed by the occupying army at the instigation of their own countrymen’s ruling elite. Who knows what they’ll do next? They might come for you! And what’s more, it looks like someone’s even stolen the body.

Although that didn’t make sense. Pilate posted guards at the tomb because the priests were afraid the disciples would steal the body and claim Jesus had risen. And the disciples knew they hadn’t done it! But who else would take it? And how could they get past the guards? And besides, why would the linen wrappings still be there? John and Peter had seen them with their own eyes, the women hadn’t gotten the wrong tomb by mistake. Of course, Mary - you know, the one from Magdala - had said that Jesus had spoken to her in the garden and said to go to Galilee, he’d meet them there. But you know how women are, so emotional! How can we believe such a tale!

And besides it’s too dangerous to go out on the streets, we’d be recognized! So, there they are, dithering and quaking, when all of a sudden the door downstairs onto the street bursts open and they hear footsteps pounding up the stairs and knocking at the locked door! Who’s going to open it? They look at each other, fearing the worst. “Peter, James, it’s just us, open up, we’ve got something to tell you!” And then, Luke tells us, two of Jesus’ followers who had left that morning to go back home to Emmaus entered and began excitedly telling them about having seen and spoken with and actually even eaten with Jesus just that very evening! They had run almost all the way back to Jerusalem with the news.

And just as they’re trying to absorb this incredible story, suddenly among them stood their beloved teacher. And he was real! He was warm, and solid. And he said, “Peace be with you,” and suddenly they weren’t afraid anymore. “Is it really you, Jesus?” I can hear them say, touching his arm, his shoulder, his hand; “Is it really you?” And they looked at the holes the nails had left through his hands, and the deep sword cut in his side, and it is something that cannot happen, that has never happened before. Some of them had actually seen him die, others had watched Joseph and Nicodemus take his body to the tomb, and yet he was there. One or two even wept a little, from love and relief and sheer amazement. “Jesus, is it really you?” “Yes,” he says, understanding them, as he always had. “Yes, it’s really me. Don’t be afraid anymore. But listen, there’s work yet to be done. I’ve done what the Father sent me to do, I’ve done my piece. Now it’s your turn. Now I’m sending you. Phase two is about to begin.”