Tonight, over a dinner conversation I asked a new acquaintance of mine about her life. I recently heard this statement at a Young Life camp "We can not really talk about life without talking about Jesus because the two go hand in hand." Naturally my next question to my new friend was do you believe in the Lord. What I heard her say was this I might believe in HIm but I have questions that don't make since and lead me to not believe. At the top of the list was, "Why do bad things happen to good people? A great question if you ask me because I think at the center of all of us we ask this question. We have all been hurt. Recently I feel like pain and hurt have surrounded me. However, let me tell you a true story of a perfect someone who felt the most pain that anyone could ever feel yet something incredible came from such sorrow.
" They kept shouting, Crucify him! Crucify him! For the third time Pilate spoke to them: Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him. But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will…. Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals–one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing. And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One. The soldiers came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself. "
John includes a tad more detail:
"Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying Hail, King of the Jews! And they struck him in the face…."
Now I know that most if not all of you have heard this story at some point in your life. Here is the most amazing thing to me: This story would just be another story of bad things happening to a great person if it weren't for what came next!
"After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightening, and his clothes where white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said."
Out of this terrible, terrible act of humanity came the greatest gift ever. SALVATION. I think the reason why we all ask the same question my friend asked tonight is this: God wants us to see and understand the pain he felt when His son hung on the cross. Yet with this pain God had great joy because "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 God could not associate with us before Christ hung on that cross because such a holy God could not be near such horrible sin. Jesus was our intercessor. This is what I am really getting at with all of this: God can use bad things for His ultimate good and we see that when we look at the cross. Bad things are going to happen to good people. Even Jesus was not exempt from this. God knows how we feel and can sympathize with us.
This was just some food for thought I had for you all because it has been echoing in my head ever since my dinner conversation. Now here is the deal. You guys have the chance to help partner with me to tell others that the God of the universe knows exactly how we feel when we say, "They took away everything I own, I have no place to go, I have no one who loves me, my best friend left me in the time I really needed him, I was physically harmed and tormented and the list goes on and on." Jesus felt it all, yet by the cross everyone who has ever lived, is living, or ever will live has LIFE!!! Today would you considering supporting this ministry financially. I know I don't deserve the provisions that you have earned but it reminds me of something else I don't deserve nor will I ever deserve and that is the price our savior paid for you and me.
