Don't Be So Quick To Judge

I've been a little bit rocked the past few days. I kept looking at the calendar and seeing Sunday, Palm Sunday. My mind went back to the Bible stories learned so long ago. As a kid we would all get palm branches and at the beginning of church we'd get to come in through the doors, walking down the aisles and shouting, "Hosanna!". It was a celebration! This week though I kept my eye on today almost with a bit of dread and so many questions, "How can they love Him so one day and crucify him seven later? I don't understand."

I turned to John 12 to start looking for answers and got a bit of conviction and opened eyes as well. Funny how God does that, no? Surely that day truly was a celebration, the Jewish people thought finally their Savior had come to establish his kingdom. After all of the years of bondage, freedom would be theirs.

John 12:28 - God speaks. Can you imagine? Here comes who you believe is your Savior and he is praying how his soul is deeply troubled. What questions this must have raised. But then, God speaks. Verbally. Out loud. With Moses or the prophets/leaders of old no where around. Don't we sometimes think God has gone silent in this day and age? It was my first reminder, don't put God in a box. He SPOKE and Jesus confirms it wasn't for his benefit, but for those standing there, for us. It's kind of great to imagine based on the description, a bit like thunder. I believe that thunderstorms will no longer be the same, I'll be listening.

John 12:34 - The questions start to be verbalized. Jesus had just predicted his own death and now they start coming, "We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man anyway?" Ouch. For us it's easy, b/c we know the end of the story. But should I be so quick to judge? They were thinking about Scripture, God breathed Scripture. It was not with ill intent for this crowd to question. True, they hadn't put all of the prophecies together - but do we always put the pieces of God's plan together? Do we question? Do we see our little slice of reality and think, "I have the facts here and I don't like them." And we start to question? I do. Maybe I need to withhold judgement on this crowd, the crowd I really if I'm being honest with myself kind of want to go after and start fighting - they killed my Savior you know. I was holding my son in the middle of the night last night and began thinking of Mary who's son was murdered before her eyes in the cruelest of ways. I was angry. I can't imagine the horror, being a Mama and seeing your son murdered before your own eyes. And yet, I play a part. I have played a part for so long, because I was not physically there does not let me off the hook.

John 12:42 - "Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn't admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue." Ouch. We're being honest here right? I have done this. God has set up conversations for me before where I know there is an opening as wide as a doorway to share my faith, at least a little bit of it. To give Jesus some credit. To just say SOMETHING. And I haven't. Oh I have the excuses, surely. "I work with him/her, it would make things weird at work!" "We're in front of other people, this is a more private conversation." "What will they think of me?" Oh. Wait. That nugget of truth wasn't supposed to come to light. Right? No no no, we have VALID reasons yes? Or not. Not when the truth slips out. Maybe that's just me...

I was completely convicted. Forgive me, Lord.

John 12:46 - "I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark." My prayer is that God continue to shine as a light into the dark places in my own life, in my own heart, in my own mind. Do I have the dramatic salvation story from drugs, drinking, etc? No. Worse, I get in my own way and others' way, judging others actions, and out of fear of what someone may think about me I hold on to the greatest truth like it's my greatest secret. Praise God that He did come and allow Himself to be killed, His love covered all and continues not only to cover but to shed light on areas that need exposed. What an amazing God we have with the most awesome love that allows us to grow. He doesn't judge, He merely shines His light and allows us to choose what we'll do with what we see.

We serve an amazing God.
- Tiffany Adams