“You’ve been smoking!” was all that I could hear. My mother’s words, spoken long ago, when she caught me smoking in the shed below the kitchen. But this time the explanation for the nicotine-looking stains on my fingers was different. Really and truly, I was picking stinkbugs off my lemon tree, when the little critters sprayed chemical on my fingers and left some yellow stains. It looked as if I was a seasoned smoker, and my mother’s words were ringing in my ears.

It’s hard to be falsely accused. It’s not uncommon, and the Book records many sad instances. David accused of plotting against King Saul. The priests of Nob accused of plotting against King Saul. Jonathan accused of plotting against King Saul. The army accused of plotting against King Saul. (Somewhat of a recurring theme in those sentences.) Not to mention poor Job and Jeremiah and Micaiah and Micah.

But one stands above them in innocence, and below them in the way that he was treated. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” And so says Peter the Apostle: Jesus has set for us an example of patient endurance for those times when we are misrepresented and misunderstood. This is the Master’s way. Narrow but true. Hard to bear, but right to do; and thankfully not the final word.