Wednesday 4/1
Hello from Pastor Ken's Garage Study!
Sepphoris.
It is not a virus or a disease. It was a Roman economic colony during Jesus' lifetime. Jesus grew up in Nazareth only 9 miles from there. He must have known about it but never mentions it. He never blasts them for being Roman or for treating his Jewish people unfairly. He never mentions them. He did not agree with Roman policies. Many of his teachings showed that. But why did he not take them straight on?!
Big problems, social and economic injustices, and wars all exist in our world. Especially now the news daily overwhelms us. We deny we can make a difference so many of us to survive just go about our business. We may even accept some of the imbalances as a compromise. We have to play the game to survive. At what cost to our souls?
Jesus did not attack Sepphoris or Rome but he also did not cooperate with injustice or violence. In fact, the way he lived his life and the message of love and taking care of the least of these became a threat to three empires - Israel's powerful religious leaders, King Herod of Israel, and Rome. It says in Luke 23:12 that Pilate and Herod became friends when they teamed up against Jesus. Jesus did not play the game to survive and it cost him his life.
But did it? He rose again on Easter Sunday. His good news, love, and forgiveness continue to spread and change lives. He died to the power hungry ways of living and kingdoms of this world. He rose again to new life.
How different am I willing to live to follow Jesus? 'For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?' Luke 9:24-25
Keep your soul and join the ranks of followers changing the world one soul at a time.
Together in Christ.