With the death this week of Jeffrey Epstein, some of his victims feel it isn’t fair that he will not face his accusers in court. There is something unjust in these events. Throughout history there have been many victims who have not had their day in court and for whom justice has not been done. You may have been hurt by the words or actions of another who has avoided justice and you feel it is unfair. Part of our faith reminds us, we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10) and so all will ultimately be judged, and justice will be done.
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You may have read recently of the Police and the Whangārei District Council defending their decision to move Grant Edwards from the city mall. The news report described Grant as a hellfire-and-brimstone preacher. What do you think about the police stopping him from preaching? Even if the message is not wrong what do you think of the wisdom of his method of proclaiming it? Once, when sending his disciples out to proclaim the gospel, Jesus said, be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16) How do we speak wisely, proclaim wisely and answer wisely with the gospel we have to share?
I remember the golden age of heavyweight boxing in the 1970s when Muhammad Ali was in full flight saying, Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. The hands can’t hit what the eyes can’t see. His boxing contests grabbed the attention of the world, with strong contenders giving their all to beat the Champion.
Jesus was a man of fearless faith who stood tall in testing times. The contestants coming against him in the temple were the Pharisees, Sadducees and Herodians – each wanting to discredit Jesus. They came not with physical blows but with questions they hoped would expose him as a spiritual lightweight and disqualify him in the eyes of the public. Nick Vujicic is an Australian man who was born with no arms and no legs. However he has overcome his life’s challenges through strength and hope found in Jesus Christ. As a child, he struggled mentally, emotionally, and physically, but eventually came to realize he had disability. At the age of seventeen, he started his own non-profit organization, Life Without Limbs. Even though Vujicic had no arms and no legs, he has helped many people hope and the meaning of life in Christ. He used a great gift of helping and encouraged many people to come to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
Have you ever walked into a room, suddenly there is an awkward silence and you wonder if people have been talking about you? As Jesus teaches using three parables it dawns on the religious leaders he is talking about them, and what he has to say isn’t good! Jesus’ parables are sharp and pointed straight at the elders who had questioned his authority.
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