Good Friday with Jesus

Jesus and I sat at a quiet coffee shop while I read His letter to me. When I sat back to think about what I was reading the following conversation took place.

Jesus: David, do you know who you remind my Father of?

David: No, I don't.  I hope it's not Peter.  I hope you can't see denial in me waiting to come out when questioned by a little girl.

Jesus: No, it's not Peter.

David:  Is it Thomas?  I know that I still have more doubt than I should, but I'm working on it.  I'm trying to hav…. No, no, it's not Judas, is it?  I'm sure I wouldn't sell you out for a few coins. Wait! It couldn't be Caiaphas, could it?  Am I so blinded by my position and religion that I've missed you?

Jesus:  Not Thomas, Judas, or Caiaphas.  David, think more carefully.  Who does the Father think of when he sees you?

David: (thoughtful pause while we both drink from our coffee cups) Barabbas!  He was the one that deserved to die and got out of it.  Do I resemble him?  Does He see a lucky chump who didn't get what he deserved?

Jesus: Lucky chump? (Jesus didn't like that guess.  He put his coffee down, sat back, and shook his head.)  David, you're thinking like you think.  Try thinking like I'm teaching you to think.  Think with the mind I'm giving you.  Who do you remind my Father of?

David: Brad Pitt?

Jesus: Um, No.

David:  I don't know.   I know I am loved and don't deserve it.  I know that I mess up far too often.  I know there are too many scars that I have and have caused.  But, I don't know who I remind the Father of.  (Jesus sat forward and almost whispered to make sure I was listening)

Jesus:  The cross and the tomb where not just places I had to go, they became tints of color that shade everything He sees. He can't see my people without seeing them through the grace of the cross or the victory of the tomb.  Everyone who follows me is seen through the grace and victory I bought for you.

Try it again.  Who do you remind the Father of?

David: You?

(Jesus smiled and nodded as he finished his coffee.)

Jesus and I stood from the table where we were seated and pushed our chairs back in.  I got to the door first so I opened it and let him through.  As he walked by he looked at me, grinned, and shook his head, "Brad Pitt?"  We like laughing together.

It was a Good Friday.

Pastor Dave

 

4000 Diseases

I just listened to a really smart person explain that there are 4000 diseases that have a known molecular structure. Two-hundred and fifty of those diseases have a drug that cures them.  Imagine going to work knowing that you have 3,750 discoveries left to go.  Imagine knowing that each discovery takes about 25 years to come to completion.  That's almost 94,000 years! Pack a lunch.

What about the 4,000 diseases that cause distance between us and the Creator? Don't we spend much of life trying to ignore, out run or forget what is wrong?  Aren't we trying to discover new ways to be at peace?  Isn't there a constant effort to find out what's wrong and do our best to fix it?

Easter.

There are over 4,000 diseases that have attached themselves to our soul, but there is one Repair.  There are countless sins and faults that try to keep us from knowing God, but there is one Antidote.

I guess a lot of life is knowing what's wrong and how to fix it.  God does.  I can't.

By the way, 94,000 years aren't needed.  One moment.  One step.  One Savior.

Healed,

Pastor Dave