Before I Condemn…..

I’m guilty of abusing my privilege of knowing God, just like every soul here on earth is. I’ve learned to live knowing my imperfections, my inability to do what’s right on my own. It’s never more clear than when I read the dialogue that took place while Jesus hung on the cross. The condemnation that was projected out of the mouths of the people get under my skin. “If... then let Him...”, “He can’t...”, and “Look at You now...”, these are all human interpretations of the event, but they reveal more than the average person gives thought to. They reveal our desire to be in control, our distorted habit of comparing, and what being “religious” is really about. And even though we don’t like to admit it, they are no different from us (humanly speaking). We all have found ourselves participating in this kind of behavior. We step into the role of God when we judge, because we rarely “judge rightly” as Jesus talked about. We jump to conclusions without exhausting all the facts. We see things from a worldly perspective, instead of a heavenly one. And we act out of selfish pride rather than humbling ourselves out of reverence of our Maker. Any time we read of people abusing God in the Bible, we must ask ourselves, “before I condemn, do I do these things?” You see the Bible is God’s word to us first (me first). It’s purpose is to address ”me first”, in order to prevent a “me first” mentality. It’s not until we see the bad behavior in the Bible as being “our behavior”, or at least a possibility within us, that we can truly begin to understand what was done on the cross. Understanding the bad news about ourselves, is what makes the Gospel such “GOOD NEWS”. Knowing our potential for good and bad, is the proper perspective we should always have. It’s what humility is all about. It’s active and alive, so we must treat it that way.

35 After they had nailed Him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for His clothes by throwing dice. 36 Then they sat around and kept guard as He hung there. 37 A sign was fastened to the cross above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against Him. It read: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38 Two revolutionaries were crucified with Him, one on His right and one on His left.39 The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. 40 “Look at You now!” they yelled at Him. “You said You were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if You are the Son of God, save Yourself and come down from the cross!”41 The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus. 42 “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but He can’t save Himself! So He is the King of Israel, is He? Let Him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in Him! 43 He trusted God, so let God rescue Him now if He wants Him! For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” 44 Even the revolutionaries who were crucified with Him ridiculed Him in the same way. Matthew 27:35-44