Grace

Who is this?

By: Joseph Murdy

“When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘who is this?’ The crowds were saying, ‘this is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’”
“Who is this?” Is a question we still face today? We might get wrapped up in impossible questions over scripture, or we might get overwhelmed with theological debates. When the people of Jerusalem asked, “who is this.” They knew Jesus was from Nazareth, and they knew he was a prophet. What they wanted to know was “Who is this, and what are we to do about it.” Do we follow him? Or crucify him? The question of Jesus’ identity does not demand an answer, it calls for a response.

What do your actions say about who Jesus is? What does your life style, attitude, and relationship with friends, family and strangers…say about who you believe Jesus is? This week is considered the most sacred time of remembrance for the Christian church. In Holy week we encounter the answer to this age old question, “who is this?” As we journey through Holy week, be mindful of the question, “who is this?” Don’t take the story of Christ’s life, death, and promised resurrection for granted. Not only will you discover who Christ is, you will discover who you are because of who Christ is. Let us be mindful of the question, “who is this?” Because as the story of Christ’s passion unfolds we shall see how deep the love of God really goes. When you discover who Jesus is, how will you respond?

Braille on elevators...

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him.” John 9: 3

My only encounter with Braille is on elevators. I always notice the dots below the numbers that we press to choose which floor. Because I haven’t grown up around someone born blind there are a lot of things I’ve never thought about. I was out to eat with Tyler (who was born blind) and Bethani the other day and realized I have never wondered until today if menus come in Braille.

Often we are “blind” to things until we have a reason or insight to see.

Braille is a worldwide system is used by the blind and visually impaired to for reading and writing. It was created by a man named Louis Braille. Louis was not born blind. He was blinded by an accident that happened while he was young. According to Wikipedia, “At age three, he scratched his right eye while making holes in a piece of leather with a pruning knife that was too heavy for him. There was nothing anyone could do except patch and bind the affected eye. The wound became severely infected and spread to his left eye causing his blindness.”

One of the powering forces behind Louis creating a system of raised dots (made by the same tool that blinded him) was that he wanted to read the Bible. As a matter of fact most the contracted words in Braille are the most common words found in the Bible.

Here is a man who was blinded after birth and he brought the Word of God to all the visually impaired who followed. Talk about a man who God worked miracles through…

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him.”

Sometimes the things we claim hold us back are the very things that guide us to follow God’s call.

Set Free

By: Joseph Murdy

There in the guilty seat, I sat facing my accusers. All of my sins, doubts, and failures pointing at me with their long crooked finger of guilt and shame. I had done so much wrong. All the evidence was there, one picture after another came flashing through my mind. There was no need for questions, interrogation, or investigation I was guilty as sin…pardon the pun. As I sat deep into the chair I was terrified and trembling waiting for the verdict which would decide my fate. I was guilty and I knew it! I deserved the worst punishment! I should be locked up and forgotten. My mind racing with possibilities, what’s going to happen to me? Just when I could stand it no longer, the judge returned to give his decision. “I find you innocent, blameless and irreproachable. You are free to go.” (Col. 1:22)

Do you ever feel so guilty, so utterly ashamed, and all alone? This is how we find ourselves most days, especially when we forget what Jesus has done for us. Paul’s letter to the people of Colossae is full of reminders, “He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1:13-14) The feelings of guilt, shame and loneliness are the greatest obstacles in our relationship with God. They make us hid from God, our loved ones, and in some ways from ourselves. Today, remember that you are a child of God and God forgives you, abides with you, and loves you! “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Col. 2:6-7)

The Cross

By Robert Hereth

Is the sole purpose of the golden cross my wife wears every moment to remind her of God's love and forgiveness? She would modestly say it's at least the primary purpose. But Jesus wouldn't talk that way. He hopes, correctly, it also reminds her of the crosses she must be willing to carry to be a Christian.

He made it clear: "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their crosses daily and follow me." Luke 9: 23

In that way a cross is the perfect symbol for the spot we are on. The vertical trunk stands for our relationship with God, while the horizontal branch represents our relationship with everyone and everything in the world about us. And we live on the spot where the two intersect!

On that spot we best express our love of God - by our sacrificial love for his children and his world. Also on that spot we sacrifice to love and forgive others - in the strength God provides and in trust that God's Spirit can use our little efforts to further his Gracious Plan.

On the spot where we Christians live, always the vertical and the horizontal are working at the same time.