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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion March 19, 2008 TORTURE |
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Frontline Devotion for Wednesday, March 19, 2008 by Penny Risen
Matthew 27: 27-31
“Some of the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into their headquarters and called
out the entire regiment. They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. They
wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on His head, and they placed a reed
stick in His right hand as a scepter.
“Then they knelt before Him in mockery and taunted, ‘Hail! King of the Jews!’
And they spit on Him and grabbed the stick and struck Him on the head with it.
When they were finally tired of mocking Him, they took off the robe and put His
own clothes on Him again. Then they led Him away to be crucified.”
After 2,000 years, this image of torture, cruelty and personal debasement of Jesus should be foreign to us. But just turn on TV news, browse the Internet or open a newspaper, and the images of torture and evil are all too fresh and present.
--- A hooded figure stands bound and humiliated by his
captors in a military prison.
--- A crowd of monks cowers as they’re beaten and threatened by authorities of
an oppressive dictatorship.
--- A father weeps while he speaks at a vigil for his teenage son, killed by
gang members in a drive-by shooting
--- A woman’s face tightens with worry as she fights back tears, while her
powerful husband publicly acknowledges his disgraceful and immoral acts.
--- A wounded child huddles alone in a hospital, having lost his parents while
fleeing the aftermath of a terrorist bombing.
It’s tough to admit that people have learned so little about caring for the world and sharing our love with each other as Jesus asked us to do, over and over again.
Jesus’ tortured face on the eve of the Crucifixion starkly reflects His human side. His pain is suffered for us and for the sins of the whole of humanity.
Evil around us and in us still exists. We need God’s love and grace just as much, if not more, today to fight it.
Prayer for the day: Dear Lord, teach us how to end cruelty and injustice. Show us how to love our brothers and sisters. Move us to share what we have with others. Open our eyes to see the whole of humanity as Your family. Forgive us, for we know not what we do. Amen.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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