Matthew 27:26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
This story has been on my mind lately. A group of people that prefer to have a murder released to them in exchange to have teacher, the Messiah crucified.
I realize for a long time I have seen this story as an example of how twisted and lost the people were, that they would be capable of asking for the release of a murder and exchange for Jesus. All the while I held to the knowledge that God is sovereign and this was all part of His plan to redeem His people, I glanced over the idea that maybe this story is also a picture of God's grace as well.
From the story it appears that that Jesus and Barabbas were in the same place at the same time. Being presented to the people. Pilate, trying to convince them to let this innocent man free, chooses the worst of the criminals that he has available and offers a choice to the people.
Jesus and Barabbas standing next to each other. If there was a limit to God's grace - if there was one thing that Christ didn't die for - it would probably be this. Inciting protests and murder, setting the stage for continued violence and tensions between the ruling power and the people. (And although the specifics are different - I wonder if the current tensions in Israel and Jerusalem may communicate some of the same emotions and tensions that existed then)
Jesus didn't say a word. Being the son of God he had every right to say something. To use this platform, to announce his purpose, to lay out the stipulation and details of the covenant he had come to renew. But he didn't say anything.
If Barabbas was beyond Jesus' grace I imagine he would have said something. He could have said something like - "Ok, I came to offer grace to all people, but you, you have destroyed the lives and families of hundreds of people, you have disturbed the peace, at least you must realize the gravity of you actions before I extend my grace." or "My grace is for all - except the worst ones." or even "Pilate - did you really have to go this far to bring out the worst?! I can extend grace to thieves and tax collectors, prostitutes and sinners - but this guy! he has murdered and probably doesn't even regret it!"
But Jesus didn't say anything. Maybe he didn't say anything, because the worst of sinner, the most despicable criminal is still within the limits of God's grace. Everyone, who still has breath in their lungs is within those limits. Both the thieves on the crosses and the man name Barabbas in Pilate's court were enough for Jesus to go to the cross.
I find that it is easy for me to say these things, to know in my head that God's grace is for all, no matter to what 'degree' of sinner they are (if there really is such a thing). But when it comes to real life it is much harder to wrestle with. In the past month there has been a string of attacks in Jerusalem carried out by Palestinian extremists. Recent conversations have been around how sever ought their punishment be or what type of justice is needed. Most often the attacker has been killed so the punishment is against their family, who often celebrate the martyrdom of their family member.
Justice is needed, if we want a civil world, we can't just dismiss it in the name of grace and pretend like it is all OK. But the question remains with me, how ought we act or respond in ways that recognize that the grace we received is also showed to the worst of us. If we are it image bearers of God, how do we show the God's grace is also to them? We are the messengers of God's grace, simply carriers, we do not have the authority to change or alter the contents of the message we carry. We do not have the authority to place limits on it, or fences to Barabbas' out. If we start to place limits on grace, we better be careful, because with our tendency to portray our lives better than they really are, likeliness is that the limits we place on it would exclude ourselves.
I don't have answers yet, but I don't want to fall into the trap of using terms and language that clump all Palestinians or Arabs into the same group as the extremists, and on the hand I don't want to become so skeptical as to avoid the truth. Maybe it is the fine balance of speaking the truth in love and Paul talks about in Ephesians. I haven't figured it out, and I feel that it may be a lengthy journey, but by God's grace, may we learn how to show love to the Barabbas's.
I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Ephesians 4:1
Showing posts with label grace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grace. Show all posts
Friday, November 21, 2014
Friday, September 26, 2014
Rosh HaShannah - fresh starts and God's love
Yesterday was Rosh Hashannah, the Jewish New Year.
We celebrated with a group of friends and dinner together! It was a lot fun. I enjoy celebrating these holidays, not just for the sake of extra holidays, but they seem to be very applicable to New Testament as well.
It is a celebration of new starts and making things right. From my understanding it starts a season of making things right with each other before Yom Kippur - the day of Judgement. It is a time of celebration, but also has a piece of introspection attached to it.
This music video might give you an idea of what Rosh Hashannah is celebrating
My thoughts go back to forgiving.
It is hard. It is more than I'm sorry, it is more than pretending it is alright. It is a deep down heart change that refuses to look at that person as an enemy but pleads with God to let me see that person as God sees them. And however long that process takes, however painful that it is, pursuing that perspective until when I think of that person I think of them I no longer think of them with the hurt they caused, but as one loved by God.
When I neglect to extend forgiveness I have neglected to recognize that they are also a child of God. I have forgotten that I too was in that place totally undeserving of grace. In a way it requires humbleness to forgive, because to truly forgive is because we have been forgiven first.
All too often I don't pursue or reject forgiving, I just ignore it. I avoid confrontation. I would rather just pretend it didn't exist and walk away and maybe someday it will all be better. But as a Christian, covered by the grace of God's love I'm called to extend it to others. Maybe the grace they see from me is the only shadow of God's grace they will see, and to cover them in that shadow I must be close to them.
These thought have been rolling around in my mind over the past couple years as I struggle and learn more about forgiveness and God's love. It is easy to say these thing as concepts, just like the rich man with whom Jesus talked could accept the command 'love your neighbour'. But the part that he struggled with was when it was further define who his 'neighbour' was.
Forgiveness is not justifying their actions. It is not saying that it is ok! God never said, "It's all ok" he said, "go and sin no more". If we stop counting their actions and starting asking how God ought to have us love them then maybe we can start in a better place. Maybe the best way to love someone who is hurting you or who has hurt you includes setting up and supporting appropriate boundaries like not being alone with them. Maybe it includes taking a stand and voicing the truth. But above all, it is to seek restoration rather than retribution.
In any case, if we want to truly love and extend God's grace to our neighbours, it is not going to be a cookie cutter "I'm sorry" and "I forgive you". It seeks the best for them, it seeks to love them as Christ loves them. It is to desperately pursue a perspective that they are actively loved by God and to respond to them in an appropriate manner.
Sometime I see or hear of people who feel ostracized from a Christian communities because of their past or their history. Their participation and freedom is limited, instead of finding ways to welcome and support them. All the while they are told that God can save everyone - and even the vilest murder can be accepted into the Kingdom of Heaven, but they fail to be accepted them into the kingdom of heaven here on earth. So, either we don't really believe that they will be accepted (Romans 10:13), or we don't believe that the kingdom of heaven is here (Luke 17:21).
I want to see more communities that embraces the truth that God change hearts and celebrated that God makes beautiful things out of our broken pieces.
It is hard. But within that difficulty I have learned more about God's love for me in ways I can't describe, and the value of forgiveness, both towards me and from me.
This might be some heavy thoughts at a time of celebration. But rejoice in this, if you have accepted Christ, you are covered by his grace. You are forgiven, and if those are just words, ask that He shows you value of that forgiveness. As we understand and can rejoice in the grace that covers us, let us freely give.
We celebrated with a group of friends and dinner together! It was a lot fun. I enjoy celebrating these holidays, not just for the sake of extra holidays, but they seem to be very applicable to New Testament as well.
It is a celebration of new starts and making things right. From my understanding it starts a season of making things right with each other before Yom Kippur - the day of Judgement. It is a time of celebration, but also has a piece of introspection attached to it.
This music video might give you an idea of what Rosh Hashannah is celebrating
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlcxEDy-lr0&feature=youtu.be
It is hard. It is more than I'm sorry, it is more than pretending it is alright. It is a deep down heart change that refuses to look at that person as an enemy but pleads with God to let me see that person as God sees them. And however long that process takes, however painful that it is, pursuing that perspective until when I think of that person I think of them I no longer think of them with the hurt they caused, but as one loved by God.
When I neglect to extend forgiveness I have neglected to recognize that they are also a child of God. I have forgotten that I too was in that place totally undeserving of grace. In a way it requires humbleness to forgive, because to truly forgive is because we have been forgiven first.
1 John 4:19 We love because Christ first loved us.
All too often I don't pursue or reject forgiving, I just ignore it. I avoid confrontation. I would rather just pretend it didn't exist and walk away and maybe someday it will all be better. But as a Christian, covered by the grace of God's love I'm called to extend it to others. Maybe the grace they see from me is the only shadow of God's grace they will see, and to cover them in that shadow I must be close to them.
These thought have been rolling around in my mind over the past couple years as I struggle and learn more about forgiveness and God's love. It is easy to say these thing as concepts, just like the rich man with whom Jesus talked could accept the command 'love your neighbour'. But the part that he struggled with was when it was further define who his 'neighbour' was.
What if God loves... the perpetrator of evil?
What if God loves... the radical terrorist?
What if God loves... the government who is allowing so much injustice?
What if God loves... the one who hurt your family or friend?
What if God loves... the one who hurt you?
What if God loves... the one who is still hurting?
What if God loves... the person I hate?
What if God loves... me?
God does.
Forgiveness is not justifying their actions. It is not saying that it is ok! God never said, "It's all ok" he said, "go and sin no more". If we stop counting their actions and starting asking how God ought to have us love them then maybe we can start in a better place. Maybe the best way to love someone who is hurting you or who has hurt you includes setting up and supporting appropriate boundaries like not being alone with them. Maybe it includes taking a stand and voicing the truth. But above all, it is to seek restoration rather than retribution.
In any case, if we want to truly love and extend God's grace to our neighbours, it is not going to be a cookie cutter "I'm sorry" and "I forgive you". It seeks the best for them, it seeks to love them as Christ loves them. It is to desperately pursue a perspective that they are actively loved by God and to respond to them in an appropriate manner.
Sometime I see or hear of people who feel ostracized from a Christian communities because of their past or their history. Their participation and freedom is limited, instead of finding ways to welcome and support them. All the while they are told that God can save everyone - and even the vilest murder can be accepted into the Kingdom of Heaven, but they fail to be accepted them into the kingdom of heaven here on earth. So, either we don't really believe that they will be accepted (Romans 10:13), or we don't believe that the kingdom of heaven is here (Luke 17:21).
I want to see more communities that embraces the truth that God change hearts and celebrated that God makes beautiful things out of our broken pieces.
It is hard. But within that difficulty I have learned more about God's love for me in ways I can't describe, and the value of forgiveness, both towards me and from me.
This might be some heavy thoughts at a time of celebration. But rejoice in this, if you have accepted Christ, you are covered by his grace. You are forgiven, and if those are just words, ask that He shows you value of that forgiveness. As we understand and can rejoice in the grace that covers us, let us freely give.
As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. Matthew 10:7-8
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