The right way can look completely wrong

Every day we’re asking four questions about part of the Bible. Today Bern Leckie answers:

What did I like about today's passage?

I was wondering what I could possibly find in such familiar stories that felt fresh, relevant and right to share today. It turns out there is always lots, but this stood out most.

We trust crowds too much. Isn’t there wisdom in the crowd if most or all agree? Won’t markets – crowds with money – tell us what works and what doesn’t, where to invest and where not? If you can’t raise the cash, crowdfund. If you’re stuck for ideas, crowdsource. Where have crowds ever let us down? (Apart from Boaty McBoatface, perhaps.)

OK, you might think you’re above being led by the crowd, but if you’re lost like my wife and I were once in Moscow, unable to read the signs or ask around, seeing armed police on every corner and scared to do the wrong thing or go the wrong way in the middle of a big, fast moving crowd, wouldn’t it seem OK to go their way if everyone else did and no-one died?

The crowd in Luke 23 was lost but didn’t know it. They were sure of what they wanted, a saviour which would deliver what they expected and not make them feel rubbish, challenged to change the way Jesus did. The wisdom of this crowd shouted, “Crucify him!”

And who knew that the way to new life was to follow a condemned, beaten man through his suffering and death? Even Jesus’ closest followers did not get this, I’m reminded from the story. I’m amazed that, after seeing their leader die, they kept any faith alive at all.

In human terms, this plan was nuts. But God, and only God, could deliver on it. Death had nothing to hold Jesus, so he could make a way right through it, a way now open for us to follow. It’s not the way of the crowd. Giving ourselves to be redefined by Jesus is something we’ve all spent time resisting at some point in life. But look at where his way leads, connecting puzzles of the past to power in the present and an eternal future where life and love will beat death and suffering. If you could grab hold of someone going that way, wouldn’t you? Jesus calls us to do that, along with everyone we think might never follow.

What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

God wants us to know him and his true power, surprisingly revealed in what looks like weakness and defeat. He knows we’ll keep trying to get our heads around this! Perhaps we will in time. Meanwhile, he can put his arms around us and lead us better than any crowd.

What am I going to do differently as a result?

At this moment, as you may tell from what I’ve shared here, I’m more caught up Jesus’ amazingness than the practicalities of stuff to do about it, other than trust him. But I’m glad that Luke’s story continues into “what next?” practical territory in Acts. I’ll keep reading!

Who am I going to share this with?

There’s a lot to discuss, but I’m going to enjoy simply worshiping with family tomorrow.