Thursday, April 7, 2011

This week: The cast of the crucifixion.


Our final character in the crucifixion drama is the centurion.

Doesn't it strike you as strange that the man responsible for nailing Jesus to the cross was the first recorded convert to His cause?

We read in Mark's gospel that he cried "Truly, this man was the Son of God."

The artist depicts him unseated from his horse kneeling before the cross.

That's not a bad place to start a new life. Get off which ever horse you happen to be riding, get down on your knees before the cross and then confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

You will find yourself with some amazing company.

Two billion others who have done exactly the same thing.

Ian

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

This week: the cast of the crucifixion



Today, King Herod.

He truly was a loathsome specimen who, a few years after his Easter rendezvous with Jesus, was struck by an angel and eaten with worms. Thus the highest and lowest of God's order combined to dispatch him.

He had had his opportunity. When John Baptist was put in his prison he had daily chats but later was beheaded at Herod's command. Now when Jesus stands before him he receives not a word.

And why should he? He silenced God's voice when he killed John and now he wants a one on one with Jesus.

The countdown for Herod began on the day of the crucifixion.

If God is speaking to you today don't change the channel. There will be no clearer word tomorrow.

Ian

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

This week. The cast of the crucifixion



Today, Peter-of-the-foot-shaped-mouth.

"Though all men forsake you Lord, not me!"

But when Jesus was arrested a few hours later we read in Matthew 26: that "Peter followed afar off."

That led to big problems.

He was found in the enemy's camp at Herod's Palace. When he was challenged he denied knowing Christ and then swore to make his point.

If you are going to follow the Lord don't 'follow afar off', it always leads to some form of denial.

But Peter recovered and when Pentecost came he was the one chosen by his friends to preach the first sermon.

Ah, the joy of the Christian life: space to fail and grace to start again.

Ian

Monday, April 4, 2011

This week: the cast of the crucifixion





The villain of the Easter Drama is Judas Iscariot.

He must have been bright . He looked after the money! When Mary broke the alabaster box and poured her life's savings on Christ's head it was too much for the accountant to handle. "Such waste!"

He immediately went out and did his own transaction with the priests for an agreed price of 30 pieces of silver.

Do not suppose that Jesus was sold for this price? This was the price that Judas was bought for.

Thus within the space of a few verses in Matthew 26 the extravagance of Mary's love and the venality of Judas' greed are contrasted.

Black and white; best and worst; highest and lowest.

Two legacies.

Here's the test. Do you love the Lord this morning? You really do? Then you are O.K. You may fail Him but you will never betray Him and He will never forsake you.

Ian

Sunday, April 3, 2011

This week.The cast of the crucifixion


Well, we are now in the final days before Easter. This week we will look at what I call the "Cast of the Crucifixion Drama". We will find that they are a varied but representive cross section of modern society.

Pontius Pilate, the roman prefect of Jerusalem, faced with the warnings of his wife, the voice of his conscience and a crowd howling "Crucify" chose the middle road of expediency and called for a bowl of water and washed his hands. It was an astute move, to dodge the decision but history has judged him to be a coward.

Here's a song I heard many years ago in England.

 "I did not make the spear wound, I did not set the nail,
   I did not spit upon Him nor lift my voice and rail.
   I did not plant the crown of thorns nor blaspheme God's
   dear Son
   But every time I sin on earth, I know that I'm the one.

 I'm the one who shouted "Crucify", I'm the one who raised Him up on high, I'm the one who stood and watched Him die, but every time I sin on earth I know that I'm the One."

 Pilate and indeed all of us, are involved in the crime of the cross and it takes more than a bowl of water to forgive our guilt.

But forgivesness is what Easter is all about. Hallelujah!

Ian