There are different levels of denial. Sometimes it surges up in the heat of self-preservation, but never touches the heart. Sometimes it is a sickening stain oozing out from a decrepit and rotten soul. Sometimes it is something that can be repented of and forgiven. Sometimes it is an incurable disease. Wait a minute! Everything can be forgiven. Right? Even the people who sent Jesus to the cross could be forgiven. Even those who drove in the nails. But Jesus mentions this thing called blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. I think this same thing is mentioned in other terms in Hebrews 6 and 10. And what if this is not about what God is willing to forgive, but instead, about a line that gets crossed; a line that once crossed there is no coming back? What if it is about an attitude of renouncing that infects the soul beyond all wish to call out to God? If you smoke one cigarette, you will most likely not get cancer. But how many can you smoke before you cross that line? Best not to find out.
I think it likely that Luke 12:8-12 is a warning about the line. Don’t cross it! Jesus begins with the positive statement, “All who have confessed me before men, the son of man will confess him also before the angels of God.” The word “confess” is literally “speak the same.” It refers to openly professing the things of God. In this context it is agreeing with God that Jesus is the message of God; the ideal man. The word is in the past tense and maybe this is about conversion. But maybe it is more than that. What if this is about when life has been lived? All who have lived confessing Jesus before me, will be confessed – Jesus will agree with God that you are his – before the heavenly court. And he has this right because he is the Son of Man – the Ideal Man. And notice that you confess or deny before men and the perfect ideal man confesses or denies before the angels. What we do in this life, before mankind, has implications toward what happens in the heavenly realm before the messengers of God. That should probably be a fairly sobering thought. The negative of this is denying. The word means repudiating or renouncing. And again, the point may be the life lived denying. How you live before mankind determines how you are presented before God’s angels. Confess now and be confessed. Deny now and be denied.
Verse ten seems confusing and maybe even paradoxical. All who will speak a word, a message, against Jesus will be forgiven. The word “against” primarily means “into, in, to.” On occasion, as here, it can mean “against.” That makes better sense to the context and Luke uses it this way in other places. But isn’t speaking a word against Jesus the same as denying him? Hold that thought. Jesus goes on to say that the one who blasphemes, reviles, insults, the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. What in the world? All agree that the word “blaspheme” is a stronger word than the words “speak a word against.” But still. It is tempting to do some mental gymnastics here. And the truth is, I could be guilty of that as well. One source claims that this is specifically about the Jewish nation that rejected the message of the disciples following the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. They will not be forgiven. That seems wrong and convenient. What if Jesus is saying, “What I mean about denying is a cutting off of the Holy Spirit who leads the disciples into all truth; a trampling all over the message attested to by the Spirit of God; a crossing a line that hardens the heart to the point of complete paralysis.” A momentary verbal denial, like say, what Peter will utter is forgivable. But a heart hardening reviling of the push of the Spirit will not be forgiven, because the individual has corrupted his soul to the point of no return.
And when you are dragged before the synagogue officials and the government officials, don’t worry about how you will defend yourself. The word “worry” can mean anything from “care for” to “be overcome with anxiety.” It probably means the latter here. Don’t get all worked up about your defense. Learn to trust in the leading of the Spirit of God. Your moment to confess Jesus before men – even the high muckety mucks – will come. You followed the Spirit’s lead at conversion. Keep doing that.
We will have moments in this life when we will have to decide to confess or deny. Are you a Christian? Why? I hate Christians. All Christians are bigots. How will you respond. Will you confess or deny. Confess! Openly proclaim that you agree with God that Jesus is the ideal Man, the only man to live God perfectly. Don’t be worried! The Spirit of Jesus will instruct you what is necessary to say in the moment. Don’t quench the Spirit. Don’t live a life denying. Don’t cross the line. Confess and be confessed.