Easter - A Time of Reflection - Am I Responsible?

Easter - a time of reflection - especially for someone like myself as I lived the life of a Jew for nearly 36 years.  Here I sit writing what I feel today, at this moment as I have read many postings today on Facebook and Twitter about how people feel at this time of the year.  What I am about to write here is something that I have been thinking about for sometime now and it has been effecting my heart and my mind and my strength and my soul. 

I think about what it was that I was doing and how I was feeling as I was a part of something big, really big.  I was part of history, I was part of something that I feel I cannot take back.  I was part of what happened to my Messiah, My Lord and Savior and the one true Son of God.  I was part of a rejection to the Son of God when His Mother Mary and His Father Joseph was looking for a room in the inn.  I played the role as the Innkeeper who turned them away from a room so Mary could deliver the baby Jesus.  Recently, I played the role of the one disciple, Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus to the guards of the High Priests and to the Romans.  I played the part of one man who did not believe in Him for nearly 36 years. 

However, I discovered that there was room for me at the Cross.  There was room for me in the crowds at my Messiah's Trial in front of Ponchius Pilate, the Roman Governor in Jerusalem.  There was room for me in the crowds when Jesus was beaten and was whipped like no man should ever have to be for being innocent, for committing no crime.  I was in the crowds along that long road, the Via de la Rosa, which led ever so high to that Mount known as Cavalry.  There was room for me in the crowds along that street stained with my Savior's blood.  I stood back and did not do a thing.  What was wrong with me?  Why could I not believe then as I surely do now?  Am I responsible?  Am I responsible for my Savior's death?  Am I responsible for not storming the Roman soldiers as they nailed my Savior's hands and my Savior's feet to the Cross?  Am I responsible for not climbing that Cross and freeing My Savior who was not a criminal, but God in the flesh?  He hung their high, bleeding, dying for me.  It was my fault.  I sinned.  I did not listen. 

However, Jesus Christ, the Begotten Son of God, said this among His dying words:  "Father, Forgive them for they know not what they do."  Did we not know?  Did I not know?  How could I not?  He taught us about Love, about friendship, the difference between good and evil.  Why did I not know?  How could I not know? 

He died!  I cried and I wept and I screamed for my Lord and Savior.  Was it too late for me?  What was I to do?  Run and hide?  Jesus forgave me when He went to the Cross.  He forgave that part of humanity that was blind to who He was.  He was God, God in the Flesh!  Why could I not see it?  What would it take?  I was waiting for a Messiah.  Someone different, but I was blind. I want to see, Lord Jesus!  Make me see!

He did make me see.  He said that He would raise the temple in three days!  He arose!  He did come back to life like He said He would!  What a beautiful day that was!  He is alive in my heart and in my mind and in my soul.  Jesus is ALIVE!

I now know.  I now know who the Messiah is.  He said that He would return and it would be at the time of His Father's Will.  I have accepted You Lord Jesus as my Savior!  I no longer fear death because of You!  You have taught me what Love is all about.  You have taught me what it means to be a Christian.  You have taught me as long as I accept You I will live in eternity with You.  I know it is a two-way street.  I have to fight temptation.  I have to push satan aside and not let him win over me.  With Your walk with me and with Your talk with me, I know You are here.

Thank You Lord Jesus for guiding me to a path of righteousness.  I know that I may sin from time-to-time, but I also know that You forgive me of these sins because of what You did.  That Old Rugged Cross took You from me for a short time, but I know that You are here.  Thank You Lord Jesus.

Now, I know I must do my part.  I must go out into the world and tell people about You.  The souls like me which at one time or another could not see.  They could not believe.  They are lost, but I know through You they can be found.

Happy Easter everyone!  HE IS ALIVE!  HE AROSE.

David Brown
Co-Founder
Mission Lighthouse Ministry

Bible Study Series 2011: Jesus Teaches About Lust: Matthew 5:27-30

Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus taught

You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'  But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away.  It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.  And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.  It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."  (Matthew 5:27-30, pg. 1540, Life Application Study Bible, NIV).

This is one of the Commandments of thou shall not commit adultery which comes from Exodus 20:14 in the Old Testament.  What Jesus is telling us that not only is the physical act of sleeping with someone other than your spouse the sin of adultery but that the intentions and the fantasies that might enter our minds are also sinful if they are acted out.  As Christians, we are told that we are sinful in nature with some of our daily acts.  Does it mean that if we even think about looking at another woman as a man or as a woman looking at another man other than our spouse in a lustful way that we are committing ourselves to a life eternal in hell?  This is not the easiest question to answer except that Jesus, the way to the Father in heaven tells us that we are headed to hell even if the intentions are there to be lusting after another woman or man. 

Does this apply to when we are watching television and see someone beautiful and say things or think things that we otherwise would not need to do?  What about when someone beautiful walks by and that first thought goes into your mind?  Unfortunately, that is lust and that is fantasizing and applies as well to what Jesus teaches about lust.  It is said that whether we perform the sin physically or even think about it in our minds, we are subject to the sin and we have to do what it takes to be very careful.

We, as humans, will slip up now and then.  Jesus did go to the Cross so that the burden of our sinful nature would be on His shoulders.  However, this does not mean we should be sinful.  We should heed what He taught and to practice trying to be more like Him.

Next:  Jesus teaches about divorce