Not long before Jesus died he spoke a lot about his coming again and the dividing off of people one from another. The wise and foolish virgins. The 3 men given different amount talents to invest - 10/5/1. The sheep and the goats.
In Matthew 24:40-42
Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one left. There will be two women grinding grain with a mill; one will be taken and one left. “Therefore stay alert, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
We can see division everywhere in our World today. Basically it comes down to this. Choose man’s solution for peace or choose Jesus. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Nations, Families, People are divided one from the other. But what is very troubling is the same division amongst Christians. Why is this ? Paul said;
I, therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live worthily of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, putting up with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 4:1-6
It is a red flag for a Christian to divide off and agree with the World rather than their brothers and sisters in Christ and especially rather than what the Bible says.
Don’t be like the World in how you treat Christ, treat everything about him like jewels.
Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. ” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:32-43
Just like the first criminal, a lot of people just follow the crowd, the popular opinion, which mocked and belittled Jesus - they didn’t recognise the Son of God.
But the second man, also a criminal, sees something pure, far above himself that he wants and he humbly honours Jesus, he wants a relationship with the Son of God.
Choose wisely, you choose life when you choose Jesus.
Communion is a way to show we choose Jesus. This bread and wine just look ordinary but they represent everything that Jesus did for you and they are an invitation. Come with a heart of gratitude, he is the King not just of the Jews but of the whole world.
