Mount Clinton Mennonite Church

"Thought for the Week"
(April 13, 2003)

 Living as God's People

Current "Thought for the Week"

Archive

MCMC Home Page

Who is Jesus--to Me?

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him [Jesus]: "Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him....Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." --Luke 23:39-42 (NIV)
Context: Luke 23: 32-43 (NIV)

Recalling the events of Jesus' life, the week before his death and resurrection, forces me to consider my own response to Jesus' claim to be God's Son and thus the one who came to reconcile us to God.

Am I like the crowd who on the day we now call Palm Sunday shouted praises to God on behalf of Jesus their new king? They could accept Jesus as a ruling king but not as a suffering Messiah willing to die the ignoble death by crucifixion.

Am I like the disciples who were willing to follow Jesus as the great rabbi, the best teacher they knew, but who were bewildered by his assertion that he would be killed--who taught and lived that we are to love our enemies? Can I stand up to be counted as following Jesus' ethics but blend into the woodwork when sin and Jesus' forgiveness of sin begins to be discussed?

Or am I like the one criminal crucified with Jesus who believed that Jesus was truly worthy of following even though this man did not understand Jesus' complete message?

Prayer: Our Father, thank you for sending your Son to live and die and be raised from death so that we may become your children. Help us to share this good news by our lives and our conversation. In Jesus' name, Amen!

Richard Bowman

Pastor: Lee Martin (email: mcmchurch@juno.com )
Editor: Richard Bowman (email: rbowman@bridgewater.edu )
About Our Congregation Contact Information Congregational Leaders Worship Times & Driving Directions Photo Gallery
Bulletins Inspirational Thought for the Week Activities for All Ages Small Groups Additional Links

Maintained by Richard L. Bowman (email: rbowman@bridgewater.edu. Last modified: 19-Apr-03.