Pk’s Corner
March 2016
Mark 15:20 (NRSV
20 After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and
put his own clothes on him. Then they
led him out to crucify him.
Once while I was getting a cup of
coffee between church services, one of the members of the adult class
confronted me. Her voice was a bit on
the shrill side as she point blank asked me the question, “Preacher, who killed
Jesus.”
It seems the class had a discussion
going that descended to blaming a particular people for crucifying Christ. The camps divided into blaming the entire
Roman nation, or the entire Jewish nation.
My response as I looked her in the eye, “I killed Jesus”. Needless to say, this set her back, and a
whole new discussion ensued.
As I look at this verse, I realize how
easy it is to replace “they” with “we”.
We stripped him, and we led him to the cross.
You see, we have all sinned, and only
the one without sin can save us from sin, but that had to be paid for at the
cross. Each of our sins is like a hammer
strike on the nails. Yet, our repentance
is a new resurrection into the Body of Christ.
Granted, in that time and place, the
blame of crucifixion falls on two peoples, the Roman army and the Jewish
hierarchy, but ultimately the crucifixion hammer is in my hand.
John 3:16, “For God so loved the
world…” puts in a nutshell the power of Christ in our lives. That one act of execution covered every sin
everywhere for all eternity. This means
that those who repent and believe will have everlasting life.
Yes, the blame is laid on you and me,
but the gift of eternal life, is Christ’s to share with all who believe.
Thank you God.
Amen
