Seeing is Not Always Believing

Hello. Its been awhile. I must say this is the first time since my last post that I have actually felt the need to write.  So, I'm excited.  This morning I awoke in our new quaint country home.  Boxes remain unopened, pictures are not yet hung, yet my heart is so peaceful. Every room in this house contains large, beautiful, white windows.  Everywhere I go, I am surrounded by the gentle calm of the budding countryside and the glow of the morning dew. It's quiet, it's calming, and best of all, I get to take in all in on my big red couch.  Yes, my couch and I have finally been reunited, and silly as it may be, I feel...comfort and peace. :)

On this Good Friday, how appropriatly, once again, that the weather out here is a bit dreary.  Gray clouds paint the sky, as breeze gently rustles cool air through the trees.  This Lenten season has not been as deepening for me, I must admit, as last year.   I am fully aware that I allowed myself to not be intentional about it either.  But this morning, I am so thankful that I live in a community that still respects this Holy weekend, and therefore, I get to enjoy today in peace- no kids, no papers, no chaos :).
This morning I am reminded of verse that was brought up in Sunday School last week.  We have been going through the Easter story, and the following verse was approached in a different light:

Mark 15:16-21
 ¹⁶ The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. ¹⁷ They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. ¹⁸ And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” ¹⁹ Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. ²⁰ And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

The Crucifixion of Jesus

 ²¹ A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. ²² They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). ²³ Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. ²⁴ And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.


Can you imagine?  His own people put Him in this position, on that cross. These people that Jesus walked with, ate with, talked with, are now shouting insults and spitting in His face.  How quickly the tables turned from their adoration of their glorious victor, to condemnation and hate.  And the soliders?  Was it just a game to them?  Surely they felt some remorse for brutazling an innocent man...yet we see no pity.  How great the physical pain must have been, but lest not forget the agonizing break of His heart as He looked down at His precious children..."Forgive them..for they know not what they do..."

We discussed in Sunday School this interesting turn of events-  That these people had witnessed Jesus do so much, and yet they believed  so  little.  Even until his last moments, the chief priests wanted Him to prove Himself.  Had He not already done that?  He performed miracles before their very eyes...He raised people from the dead! He lived what He preached! And yet.... they could not see.

It's easy for us to sit back and think these people were crazy for not believing, but we, unlike them, know the rest of the story.  I have to wonder even now, how often do we see Him do so much, and yet we believe so little?  I know I am guilty of those haunting words..prove Yourself..just show me and I'll believe more.  But that's just it- He has proven Himself. I have seen His hand, I have felt His cleansing power, I have recieved His life changing grace, mercy and blessings abundant...so why  at times do I believe so little?

I posted this poem from my Lent Devotional last year, but it's so good, I wanted to share it again. May these words resonate through your soul and be our prayer.

AWE-FULL
Great and Holy God
awe and reverence
fear and trembling
do not come easily to us
for we are not
Old Testament Jews
or Moses
or mystic
or sensitive enough.
Forgive us
for slouching in Your presences
with little expectation
and less awe
than we would eagerly give a visiting dignitary.
We need neither Jehovah nor a buddy-
niether the "Great and Powerful Oz" nor "the man upstairs."
Help us to want what we need...
You
God
and may the altar of our hearts
tremble with delight
at
Your visitation
amen.
-Frederick Ohler


Forgive us Father for knowing so much yet believing so little.  May we not be found casting lots at Your feet, but humbly kneeling before them in awe as Your cleansing blood flows down.