(Day 30) John 19-21

This is the end.....Or is it the beginning?

The last three books of John describe the condemnation and death of Jesus Christ. In John 19 Pilate takes Jesus to a private area and virtually gives him every opportunity to denounce who he is. Pilate knows that Jesus has committed no crime, but the popular oppinion is that he is guilty. Pilate is more concerned with keeping the peace and not upsetting Caesar. Sound familiar? Pilate basically tries to relieve himself of responsibility by saying "you do what you wish with him but I don't think he has done anything wrong". The scripture foretold of everything that would happen to Jesus, and it all happened as described. How much strength and faith did it take for Jesus to continue to proclaim his love for God all the way up to his death upon the cross? He could have simply said, "your right, I'm not the son of God. I was just kidding." He probably would have lived if he did. But, the question is, how would he have lived? How many times have we denied God in order to make things easier on ourselves? How do WE go on living afterwards? I believe it is because of the forgiveness that is extended to each of us because Jesus did allow himself to die on that cross.

Finally, just as was foretold, Jesus rises from the tomb on the third day. He appears several times to his disciples before ascending to heaven. When the disciple Thomas heres that Jesus appeared to the other disciples, he says he will not believe it unless he is able to place his finger on the holes in Jesus' hand. It's funny how even the disciples lacked faith after all that had been shown to them. I guess most of us are not that much different than the disciples were!

So, although this was the end of the earthly life of Jesus Christ, it is really the beginning for all of humanity. Through the sacrifice and suffering of Jesus all of us have the opportunity for eternal life. Regardless of what we have done! The only question is, will we be like Thomas and demand to touch the holes in his hands and side before we believe? Or will we have the faith that Jesus said we should have? The decision doesn't seem to me to be a difficult one.