This week
is a very special week. It is the most important week on the entire Christian
calendar and within this week we remember the events that changed our world
forever. I always try to do something extra special this week of the year, and
this year I have chosen to journey with you through a book by
Adam Hamilton. 24 Hours that
Changed the World is a great book with only 7 chapters. So Each Day -
Monday to Easter Sunday - I will review a chapter from the book. I very much
recommend that you click the link here and overnight yourself a copy so that
you can join in the discussions of each chapter in the comments below.
Chapter 3 - Condemned by the Righteous
Today we
are reminded of several things that are present in the world today that cause
pain. When looking at the story of Jesus' so called trial at the Sanhedrin we
are reminded of the damage we can cause from love of power, authority, and
respect of peers or fear of loosing such things. Surely of the 71 members of
the Sanhedrin or those simply observing the spectacle someone knew that what
was happening was not right. Spitting, Taunting, Beating, and lying are not
things looked favorably on by the Torah and would not be model behavior that
the so called righteous would normally display. In the secrecy of those early
morning hours without the accountability of the public, the moral examples in
Jerusalem became bullies. And even though it is likely that not everyone
participated in the belittling of Jesus, it is clear that not one spoke up for
what was right.
How often
do we fall victim to defaming another around us? When we speak with negativity
about people we seek to justify ourselves by claiming as truth the most
negative examples we can think of to describe a person. How does that make us
any different or any better? When we do this to people we know are we not doing
it also then to Christ whose image humankind was made in? When we do this are
we not belittling God's Creation? Or what about when we simply fail to speak
up? What about when we simply fail to do what
is right? I know you are thinking
well if that is what is required then we might as well give up because we can't
live to that expectation every time. That is exactly the point! You and I will
continue to mess up every hour of every day we will fail to live in perfect
community failing to lover our neighbor and failing to hear the cry of the
needy. This is why Christ has died for us: so that we would never give up. He
took our punishment; he took our death so that we might live better tomorrow
than we did today never being ashamed of the times we have failed but instead
using those instances as examples to drive ourselves and those around us to a
better future.
It is no
coincidence that Peter's Denial is also a part of this story. As Adam Hamilton
points out the story of Peter's denial is present in all of the gospels so many
people would have had to have heard the story for this to happen. Yet the only
one who was there to pass on the story was Peter himself. This example
challenges us to use the deepest and darkest embarrassments and failures of our
life in a way not only to challenge others to move beyond our flaws but as a
way of highlighting God's love and Mercy and how if he can forgive even that,
then surely there is hope for us all.
