April 2025 – Look, See, Pray

It is all over, they think. The Romans, who are VERY good at killing. And the religious authorities- they found their traitor, rigged a trial, and persuaded Governor Pilate to do their dirty work.

Those in the crowds believed it is a “fait accompli”– some with sadness, others with patriotic pride. Rabbi Jesus is past tense.

Scattered to the four winds to hide, most of his special friends and followers are grieved, despairing that the cryptic words Jesus had spoken now have a HUGE cross-shaped full stop ending the sentence. Even the ones who actually buried Jesus were thinking of doing a “proper” anointing of the corpse after the Sabbath. A final farewell, instead of the rushed job of the Friday evening.

Now we wait.

Today WE wait in impatient expectation, ‘cos WE have read the ending of the Gospels. THEY wait in grief (or satisfaction) for the world to be “normal” again.

Perhaps Lazarus, raised from death by Jesus, had a tiny seed of hope? Perhaps also fearing the mob will come for him too…

We have no clue what the Hosts of Heaven thought or knew. Had they seen the plan? Do angels wait with bated breath?

Saturday will be weird as we wait.

And about 2,000 years forward from THEIR day of sorrows, a bright preacher is saying “It’s Friday- but Sunday’s coming!”

This is a photo that surprised me… I was taking pictures at Mont St Michel, and concentrating on the low-tide water across the sands. Nice colours and reflections. I saw the heron and some gulls and used them in the composition, as one might!

When checking the photos later, I realised there was a squabble going on between the angry heron and one bolshie gull. Beaks agape, they were swearing at each other (presumably in French) and generally being disagreeable.

Then this evening I was reading an article by Dr RT Kendall about forgiveness- especially if the other party isn’t sorry or repentant or forgiving.

Isn’t it hard to forgive when the opponent is being a ***** (insert rude word of your choice) and slapping them seems appealing?

Unless you are super-human, the answer is YES. It’s very hard.

But then Jesus never said following Him would be easy. Jesus under incredible pain and pressure on the Cross cried out “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing!” (Luke 23:34)

Not long after the Resurrection & Pentecost, the first Christian martyr was killed: in Acts 7 :59-60 we read-
“While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell into the sleep of death.

Whether the issue is about fishing rights like the gull and heron, or a deathbed act of forgiveness like Jesus and Stephen, the question of forgiveness is very real.

The Lord’s Prayer contains this statement: “Lord forgive us our trespasses AS WE FORGIVE those who trespass against us.” (see Matthew 6 v12-14). So, if we will not forgive… can we be sure God will forgive us?

That’s a big complex question, too big for a short post. What do you think?

Certainly, if we refuse to forgive another, WE will be the one hurt most… we injure ourself. Is the satisfaction of demanding an apology greater than the life-enhancing joy that comes from true forgiveness? Is there any act we can do that is more Jesus-like than to forgive?