Luke 21-24
When we read the Bible on our couches with a soda or cup of tea, it can seem so normal or even blah. But today’s reading of Luke 21-24 features a lot of “WOWS!” and wild times.
Here are some of the wild events in this passage:
Satan entered Judas who then betrayed Jesus to the religious leaders…both of which are amazing! We worry about persecution and discrimination from the secular society but this was from his faith community.
Knowing what was ahead for him and while he was in the garden, Jesus was more than a little stressed. He was in such agony that “his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.” Wow!
When the mob came to arrest Jesus, one of his disciples slashed off the ear of a high priest’s servant. Not only did Jesus heal the ear, he told his disciples not to fight. Amazing!
Then poor, impetuous Peter actually does deny Jesus three times. The horror of what he did hit hard and he cried bitterly. What a humbling experience!
I can understand taking a stand for truth but it was out of jealousy that the religious leaders whipped the crowd into a frenzy. They not only roared for Jesus to be killed, they also demanded that a murderer be released.
And in the midst of all of this insanity, hatred and violence, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive these people, because they don’t know what they are doing.”
Forgiveness, mercy, love…strength that we will never understand…but for which we can be thankful.
Sue
No comments:
Post a Comment