01 April 2015

My King – Witnesses

Greetings Dear Reader,

“The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree.”

Eyewitness accounts vary.  When it came to the mock trials that condemned my King there was no clear testimony that proved him guilty.  The Pharisees could not convict him under the Law of Moses.  Herod could not find a reason to condemn him and just wanted to be entertained.  Pilate was trying to find a way to release him.

None of the witnesses against Christ could produce anything substantive that proved him guilty.  A family member once tried to convince me that Jesus’ big mistake was his triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  Jesus made no mistakes.  The reason the witnesses cannot agree is that they have nothing of value to say against Christ.

It continues.  People still try to malign the character of Jesus.  The attacks are either outright deposition or revising history.  Still the witnesses cannot get their testimonies to agree.  The attempts to deny who Jesus is do not stand up to honest scrutiny.  The revision of history is based on speculation instead of hard evidence. 

Unfortunately many who claim to follow Christ cannot get their testimonies to agree either.  Too much baggage is added to the simplicity of the Gospel by those who wish to use Jesus for their own purposes.  They may even be sincere.  If, however, one honestly seeks Christ they will see that any action that is not rooted in love and grace is not rooted in Christ.

What that means for me is that any “testimony” about who Christ is should pass the test of who Christ says he is.  He claims to be God.  He claims to be all that we need for access to the Father through faith.  He demands that we love EVERYONE.  He insists that we refrain from judging others and instead seek his kingdom. 

I must follow in faith.  I must love on conditionally.  I must let my actions be my testimony and witness that Jesus is who he claims to be for all humans.  Two millennia ago the false witnesses are beginning to assemble and plan.  One of his friends is preparing to hand him over fall all the wrong reasons.  I must not join in the falsehood.  I must not partake of the lies.  I must always represent Christ through humility and kindness.

Jesus is my King.  It is my duty to represent him well.  I must take on the role of servant to all.  I must live his example of giving my all for the sake of the kingdom.  Silent submission to all that is necessary for the great good is the way.  Turning death into a fighting chance to live is the truth.  Giving testimony through constant commitment to God is the life. That’s my King.  I wonder if you know him.

The Basin and the Towel – Michael Card

And the call is to community…

In an upstairs room, a parable
Is just about to come alive.
And while they bicker about who's best,
With a painful glance, He'll silently rise.

Their Savior Servant must show them how
Through the will of the water
And the tenderness of the towel.

And the call is to community,
The impoverished power that sets the soul free.
In humility, to take the vow,
That day after day we must take up the basin and the towel.

In any ordinary place,
On any ordinary day,
The parable can live again
When one will kneel and one will yield.

Our Savior Servant must show us how
Through the will of the water
And the tenderness of the towel.

And the space between ourselves sometimes
Is more than the distance between the stars.
By the fragile bridge of the Servant's bow
We take up the basin and the towel.

And the call is to community,
The impoverished power that sets the soul free.
In humility, to take the vow,
That day after day we must take up the basin and the towel.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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