I don't think there is a better place in existence that displays our state of brokeness than facebook. I mean, think about it. It's so easy to get caught up in reading through status update after update. It's a place people can express some thoughts we may not know if it weren't for facebook. But have you ever really thought about the negativity some people display on their facebook?
So as I was reading through facebook status updates tonight with friends, it kinda crossed my mind that our brokeness has been put on display for the world to see. I know things about people who I haven't even seen or talking to in over 5 years. But I know exactly how they were feeling tonight.
What makes a person post some of their innermost thoughts? It is so the all of their friends can see or simply so they can share their current emotion or activity? I really do think it's a mix of both.
Anyways, that's my random thought of the night. Goodnight.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Rise!
What a glorious day it was in Ohio! The weather was nearly perfect. The perfect day to be with family and celebrate together what Christ did for us. Christ died for us on the cross but then He also rose again! It's so hard to ponder and wonder WHY in the world would anyone die for us? What LOVE He must feel for His creation!
A few months ago I was apart of a Life Transformation Group with a group of girls. We spent a few hours each week talking about our lives and discussing the scripture we had read throughout the week. As we went through the Gospels, I remember reading about Jesus as He was nearing His time on the cross. Reading through John this morning at church, my exact thoughts resurfaced. My thoughts kept coming back to Pilate.
Imagine being in this man's shoes. What a decision he had to make!
Recopied below is John 28-40, just after Jesus had been brough to Pilate.
28Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What charges are you bringing against this man?"
30"If he were not a criminal," they replied, "we would not have handed him over to you."
31Pilate said, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law."
"But we have no right to execute anyone," the Jews objected. 32This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.
33Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
34"Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"
35"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"
36Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."
37"You are a king, then!" said Pilate.
Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
38"What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him. 39But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release 'the king of the Jews'?"
40They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.
When I read this conversation between Pilate and Jesus, I can't help but think Pilate is desperately trying to find out why these people so badly want him killed. In verse 31 he tells the people to take him and judge him themselves. Put yourself in Pilate's shoes. Your people are chanting for you to execute this man while you can't find one reason to do so.
Of course in verse 40 we find that the people would much rather a criminal, Barabbas, be released to them than the "King of the Jews". Now put yourself in Pilate's shoes 3 days later. The man you had just allowed to be put to death is claimed to have Risen! I don't know why I find myself pondering Pilate so in depth. Probably because if I was placed in his shoes, I worry I would have acted the same way. I feel a bit of pity for him as I read through his conversation with Jesus as it seems Pilate is really trying to let this man go while his people just won't have it. Then three days later to find out this man you had allowed to be crucified has Risen.
I wish someone of that time would have had a modern day 'CNN Update' and went back to Pilate with an in depth sit down interview asking how he felt and how his decision had affected his life. Can you imagine what this man must have felt having the fate of our Savior placed in his hands? Just a thought...
A few months ago I was apart of a Life Transformation Group with a group of girls. We spent a few hours each week talking about our lives and discussing the scripture we had read throughout the week. As we went through the Gospels, I remember reading about Jesus as He was nearing His time on the cross. Reading through John this morning at church, my exact thoughts resurfaced. My thoughts kept coming back to Pilate.
Imagine being in this man's shoes. What a decision he had to make!
Recopied below is John 28-40, just after Jesus had been brough to Pilate.
28Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What charges are you bringing against this man?"
30"If he were not a criminal," they replied, "we would not have handed him over to you."
31Pilate said, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law."
"But we have no right to execute anyone," the Jews objected. 32This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.
33Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
34"Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"
35"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"
36Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."
37"You are a king, then!" said Pilate.
Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
38"What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him. 39But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release 'the king of the Jews'?"
40They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.
When I read this conversation between Pilate and Jesus, I can't help but think Pilate is desperately trying to find out why these people so badly want him killed. In verse 31 he tells the people to take him and judge him themselves. Put yourself in Pilate's shoes. Your people are chanting for you to execute this man while you can't find one reason to do so.
Of course in verse 40 we find that the people would much rather a criminal, Barabbas, be released to them than the "King of the Jews". Now put yourself in Pilate's shoes 3 days later. The man you had just allowed to be put to death is claimed to have Risen! I don't know why I find myself pondering Pilate so in depth. Probably because if I was placed in his shoes, I worry I would have acted the same way. I feel a bit of pity for him as I read through his conversation with Jesus as it seems Pilate is really trying to let this man go while his people just won't have it. Then three days later to find out this man you had allowed to be crucified has Risen.
I wish someone of that time would have had a modern day 'CNN Update' and went back to Pilate with an in depth sit down interview asking how he felt and how his decision had affected his life. Can you imagine what this man must have felt having the fate of our Savior placed in his hands? Just a thought...
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