Good Friday – Crosswalk
2005
“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
How willing are we to say the same?
The Passion of the Christ movie has had its lasting effects
it has embedded some images in all of us.
The most haunting part for me was the crowd
for it displayed for me
something very human
and something very haunting about us.
It reminded me that we are easily encouraged
easily caught up
in crowds.
We all have been in such situations
when we get caught up in the mentality and actions of the crowd:
baseball game, political rally, concert
court room, gathered around a television
Times when we enjoyed the presence of one another.
And times when we were frightened by one another.
We also know experiences when that line got hauntingly close.
Scripture tells us of such situations
Jesus often ignited them –
after healing several people and disappearing
scripture tells us that the joy in that town rose to a fever pitch.
They were out of control. Such excitement can do great good
but equally can turn all to quickly.
Selfishness can do that. When they start to worry about who is getting healed next.
That is exactly why Jesus came.
God sent us His Son so that we would have eternal life.
It starts when we are willing to be one voice
who has the courage to stand up and say
hold on a minute
what are we doing. Look at us.
One voice who can move the crowd in best or another direction.
Too many times we tell ourselves that the others know what they are doing to us.
Everything is intentional when we are the target.
Father. forgive them for they know not what they do.
We know that we have been in situations that we are later not real proud of.
Psalm 22
Indeed many dogs surround me
a pack of evildoers closes in upon me
they have pierced my hands and my feet
I can count all of my bones
They look on and gloat over me
they divide my garments among them.
and for my vesture they cast lots.
Acts 7:60
Stephen in the face of martyrdom:
He fell to His knees and cried out in a loud voice,
“Lord, do not hold this sin against them. And with that he died”.
Are we willing to do the say the same?
The flight with heroes. (Story about boarding an airplane)
We must be reminded, especially today
that it takes one hero – one voice
they can change the direction of the crowd.
That is exactly why Jesus came.
