A couple weeks ago, I spoke at a local retirement home for their morning Chapel.  Although this is longer than I usually post, our Pastor thought this should be used as my blog, so here goes …..

I DON’T GET IT

When I began to work on my message for today, I fully intended to make it about something other than Easter.  I figured, by now, every speaker last week, this week, and maybe even next week, has or will inspire you with uplifting messages on the triumphal entry, the Last Supper and the Resurrection.  The trouble is my mind kept coming back to the same thoughts.

I can picture Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. The streets lined with excited people. The palm branches.  The shouting.  Jesus being called the Son of David and that he came in the name of the Lord.

The excitement would have been electric.  The wonder.  The awe.  The hope.

So much happened between the hope and the Cross.  Matthew 21 through 25 tells us that Jesus healed many.  Jesus confused and scared the Pharisees.  He answered their questions until from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Today we sang I Love to Tell The Story because Jesus taught and told stories from the time he said, “Follow me.”  Now he only had a few days to tie it all together.  Only a few days.

And that is where I get confused.

I DO NOT GET IT.  I DO NOT UNDERSTAND

I want to ask, “”Why didn’t you walk away?”

I want to ask, “Do you have trouble sleeping?”

I want to ask, “How could you stay silent?”

WHY DIDN’T YOU WALK AWAY

When this popped into my head, I thought of two people:  Judas and Jesus.  I know why Jesus did not walk away, so I want to ask Judas.

I mean REALLY?  Judas spent time with Jesus.  He saw Jesus heal people.  He heard Jesus teach.  He knew him!  He knew him!

And yet he went to the priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?”  30 pieces of silver… 30! 

I want to ask Judas, “Why didn’t you walk away?  Were you so disappointed that Jesus had no interest in overthrowing the Roman government?  Did you ever believe Jesus was the Son of God or did you only consider him a teacher?  Were you really that greedy?

I want to ask Judas, “Why didn’t you walk away?”

DO YOU HAVE TROUBLE SLEEPING?

Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Jesus replied, “Yes, it is as you say.”

Pilate and Herod examined Jesus and found no reason to charge him.  Even Pilate’s wife warned him:  Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man…

NO REASON TO CHARGE HIM!

AN INNOCENT MAN!

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

And Pilate gave in. 

I want to ask Pilate, “Do you have trouble sleeping?  You had heard about this man and all he had done.  You knew how shady the priests and elders were.  Your own wife warned you.  But no --- you listened to those that shouted the loudest.”

I want to ask Pilate, “Do you have trouble sleeping?”

HOW COULD YOU STAY SILENT

Not liking what they were hearing, the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus crucified.

In other words, they started shouting “Give us Barabbas and Crucify Him” and the crowd picked up the chant.

But where were the disciples?  Where were the people that had called him Son of David?  Where was the man that had given Jesus a room for the Last Supper?  Where were those that had been healed?  Where were those that knew the religious officials were only out for themselves?

I want to ask all of them, “How could you stay silent?”

The crowd was joining in with the loudest voice.  Maybe if a quiet Save Him and Worship Him had built into a loud, powerful shout … maybe the chant Pilate heard would have changed.

I want to ask all of them, “How could you stay silent?”

As I finished writing this I realized God can ask me the same questions.

“Mary, I don’t get it.  Why didn’t you walk away?”

Maybe there were a few times.  I might have listened to a joke I knew was wrong.  Or stayed and listened to gossip.  Or --  but, God, I never took 30 pieces of silver so I am not like Judas.

“Each of those “few times” I was right there beside you.  I would have given you the strength you needed.  Why didn’t you walk away?” 

Because the silver I accepted was being included in a group.  Because, like Judas, I did not realize the consequences of my actions. 

Many times I should have walked away.

“Mary, I want to ask you a question.  Do you have trouble sleeping? 

We have had many talks about my Restless Leg Syndrome, so you know I have trouble sleeping.

“What about the other times?  When you wake up in the middle of the night and cannot go back to sleep?  The times when you remember?”

Do we have to do this?  I do not like to remember some of the wrong choices I have made but, I am not like Pilate.  I have not condemned an innocent man.

“My dear child, wisdom to make correct choices was right in front of you.  My Word -- the Bible -- could have made the difference between wise choices or choices leading to sleepless nights.”

Like Pilate, I ignored the wisdom to make wise choices.  Like Pilate, my choices have hurt people.  Have hurt me.

Many times I should have turned to the Bible before choosing one answer over another.

“Mary, how could you stay silent?  You are my voice.  Through you, people can hear the truth.” 

Me?  Silent?  Now that is something I do not hear very often.  I am very vocal.  Not that long ago I caused a lot of noise over the school project.  I speak out about political issues.  I volunteer to help children.  Silent?  Me?

“Let me think.  I seem to remember you quickly commented, on Facebook, that you would pray for a friend.  Did you?  Or did you go the next story?  I seem to remember when my name was taken in vain.  Did you speak out?  Or did you keep your feelings to yourself?  I seem to remember …  shall I continue?”

No.  Do not continue, but my silence did not cause the crowd to shout Barabbas.

“Mary, when you say you will pray and then do not, that prayer is never heard and you have lied to a friend.  When you allow my name to be taken in vain, … shall I continue?”

No. 

Many times I have been silent.

When we read the Easter Story, we assign “good guy” and “bad guy” labels.  What we need to realize is that the way we live our lives, we could receive a “bad guy” label. 

And that is the whole point of Easter.  Through the Resurrection of Jesus, our sins, our bad decisions, our failures are washed clean.  We are forgiven!

LET US PRAY

Dear Lord, help us live our lives so we can be labeled as the good guys. 

Give us the strength and courage to walk away. 

Give us wisdom, through your Word, to make wise choices.

Give us a life and a voice that is full of your truth.

But mainly, because we will fail to walk away, fail to make wise choices, and fail to speak out, we thank You, with grateful hearts, for the Easter miracle of forgiveness. 

And all God’s people said AMEN.