“See if you can spot the villain,” I provoked my kids during Family Movie Night. “Every movie has one. Watch for clues, certain characteristics that will give him away.”
My own statement struck a familiar chord; reminiscent of my childhood days. I remembered my dad did that. “He’s the guy wearing the black hat,” echoed in the voice of my memory.
My own statement struck a familiar chord; reminiscent of my childhood days. I remembered my dad did that. “He’s the guy wearing the black hat,” echoed in the voice of my memory.
But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
[Mt 12:14]
There’s certainly a villain in the “Jesus Story.” At first glance we think it’s the Pharisees and Sadducees. Students in my Bible class have no qualms bashing and blaming. How often we're wrong. Oh, so very wrong! Accusations fly -- awry.
“Them” is a comfortable response. So often we easily – and conveniently – reach the conclusion to blame the religious leaders of the day. Look closer. Which character would you finger as suspect?
The prominent candidate isn’t even mentioned in the narrative!
It’s ME! Fingers should point solely to self.
I remember when that conviction first cut deep. I never really “felt” like I was a “bad” person. What a lie that was! (Now I battle the voice stuck repeatedly on; “I’m not good enough!”)
In my early years I deduced that Jesus was unfairly and unjustly tried, convicted, tortured, and executed. As I matured and gained a smidgen of understanding, I reasoned it was part of God’s plan and that He was still in control. It wasn’t until I truly humbled myself and surrendered to His Lordship that I came to the reality that I was part of the plot. It was me -- my sin -- that drove those nails and hung Him high. As I discovered His unconditional love, I realized it was His love that spread those arms wide and chose to give up that Omnipotent Spirit to breathe Its last. I'm slowly learning that the obvious isn't always all that obvious.
Yes, dramas have their “bad guys.” Makes for good entertainment. Sometimes the plot is quite complicated and a difficult mystery to solve. Sometimes it’s a rather messy affair. The Good News is that dramas starring villains, whether fiction or non, can have happy, hopeful endings.
The prominent candidate isn’t even mentioned in the narrative!
It’s ME! Fingers should point solely to self.
I remember when that conviction first cut deep. I never really “felt” like I was a “bad” person. What a lie that was! (Now I battle the voice stuck repeatedly on; “I’m not good enough!”)
In my early years I deduced that Jesus was unfairly and unjustly tried, convicted, tortured, and executed. As I matured and gained a smidgen of understanding, I reasoned it was part of God’s plan and that He was still in control. It wasn’t until I truly humbled myself and surrendered to His Lordship that I came to the reality that I was part of the plot. It was me -- my sin -- that drove those nails and hung Him high. As I discovered His unconditional love, I realized it was His love that spread those arms wide and chose to give up that Omnipotent Spirit to breathe Its last. I'm slowly learning that the obvious isn't always all that obvious.
Yes, dramas have their “bad guys.” Makes for good entertainment. Sometimes the plot is quite complicated and a difficult mystery to solve. Sometimes it’s a rather messy affair. The Good News is that dramas starring villains, whether fiction or non, can have happy, hopeful endings.
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for sharing your heart.