April 6 - Sin or Son
"Many are asking, 'Who can show us any good?' Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord." (Psalm 4:6)
As Winter turns to Spring and all that has been dead or asleep in nature is reborn, you can't help but feel joy when you look around and see the beauty of Creation. Grass and trees grow greener each day and brightly colored flowers pop up through mulch. Squirrels and rabbits scurry around seeking romance and food as they chase each other around my yard. Butterflies and bumblebees dance among the flowers looking for an ideal spot on which to land.
Despite the risks, I absolutely LOVE to lie in the sun. When I lie down and close my eyes, the warm breeze combined with the whispers of nature lull me into a deep, tranquil, state of peaceful bliss where I am truly able to relax.
UNTIL it gets hot and my skin starts to burn. Then the harsh reality sets in. Because even though it feels good, medical professionals everywhere agree that too much of the sun is not good. Best case, you end up with saggy, wrinkled, leathery skin. Worst case, you end up with skin cancer.
Perhaps I should remember there is a much safer Son in which to find rest.
Yesterday was Palm Sunday and my pastor led me to think about Barabbas, the criminal who was chosen by the people to be set free in exchange for the crucifixion of Jesus (who was innocent). Our Pastor pointed out that even though each of the 4 gospels tell this story, it is often overlooked. And I admit that despite growing up in the church, I had missed some good nuggets of wisdom.
Read the passage below from Matthew 27:11-27.
Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.“Barabbas,” they answered.“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.They all answered, “Crucify him!”“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
Before when I read this passage, I gasped in disbelief at the crowd who was willing to choose this guy (who I envisioned as scary, big, and intimidating with a patch over one eye and multiple piercings and tattoos) over Jesus.
I looked down my nose at these people and wondered how on earth they could have done such a thing. Did they not care about Barabbas' crimes? Did they not fear for their safety if he was released?
Further, were they not the very people who had been following Jesus around? Had they not witnessed Jesus heal many? Had they not seen the miracles?
How could truth, grace, love, and goodness be such a threat to them?
And then it hit me.
First, I realized that I am a lot like Barabbas. I am a sinner who deserves to be punished for my sins but instead, am the recipient of God's grace and forgiveness through Jesus who paid my ransom. He gave His life so that I could be set free.
Second, I realized that I am also like the people who chose to set the sinner free and kill the Savior. I, too, would sometimes rather live with Barabbas than Jesus. Certainly not in theory. But in reality, I often choose to spend my life with sin rather than with the Son.
As I searched the scriptures this morning looking at each chapter and verse corresponding to today, I found Psalm 4:6 above. I believe that the Lord indeed is our only source of good. I mean, you cannot even spell 'good' without G-O-D! :)
And I believe when the light of God's face shines on us, people see Him - they see good - when they look at us. "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6)
Who (and what) we choose to 'let live' in our lives matters. In other words, who we spend time with matters! There is a old saying that points out that if you lie in the dirt with dogs, you will get fleas. The Bible confirms this in 1 Corinthians 15:33 "Bad company corrupts good character" and Proverbs 13:20 "A companion of fools suffers harm."
Further, studies show that you become like the top 5 people that you hang out with. My friend and Bible study leader once asked our group if Jesus is one of our top 5. Because if we want to be like Him- if we want his light to shine on us- we have to hang out with Him. When we do:
We will find peace.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6)
We will find grace.
"But he gives us more grace. That is why the Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'" (James 4:6)
We will find His sovereignty and sufficiency.
"One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:6)
We will find protection.
"(He) will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain." (Isaiah 4:6)
"Then the Lord God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to east his discomfort and Jonah was very happy about the vine." (Jonah 4:6)
So I think the the question for today is this: When others look at me, what do they see? Do they see evidence of sin that I am allowing to run rampant in my life? Or do they see the grace and love of my Savior?
Other notable verses for 4/6:
"Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you." (Proverbs 4:6)
"He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers;" (Malachi 4:6)
"Let your conversations be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." (Colossians 4:6)