The Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC, supplies a stark reminder of how evil humans can be. I was stunned by the hall of shoes that had once been worn by doomed Jews; the story of the methodical elimination of innocents in Krakow’s Jewish Ghetto; and the grisly death of prisoners in Hitler’s concentration camps.
But most chilling was my recognition that the Nazi officers looked normal. Worse, they looked like me. My ancestors were Swiss-German Mennonites, so I resembled the officers in the pictures. They could have been my Sunday school teachers! How did such normal people get caught up in such a great evil? Somehow, they simply went along with it.
That’s usually how great evils are committed. Pilate wasn’t looking for trouble when Jesus was thrust upon him (Mark 15:1). He didn’t realize who He was, and he didn’t much care. He just wanted the problem to go away.
Pilate made a half-hearted attempt to do the right thing. He invited Jesus to refute the charges and asked the crowd if he should release Jesus as a Passover favor. But the Jewish leaders had stoked the crowd into a mob, and they demanded that Barabbas be freed and Jesus be crucified. Pilate tried one last time, asking the crowd, “What crime has He committed?” When “the mob roared even louder, ‘Crucify Him!’ ” (v.14), Pilate washed his hands of the mess (Matthew 27:24).
It was easier to give in to the cries of the moment than to seek justice for Jesus. Pilate simply went along, and in so doing he crucified the Son of God.
Today Jesus is represented by the poor and needy who are thrust upon us (Matthew 25:31-46). Will we give them a hand or will we shrug and go along?
More:
• Proverbs 3:27
• James 2:15-17
• 1 John 3:17
Next:
How might we balance both justice and mercy? Should we help everyone who is in need, or only those who are in need through no fault of their own?
Lorenzo on February 25, 2010 at 8:52 am
Every time I see a begger on the streets of Winnipeg now, I think about what Jesus would do. I see most people avoid them like the plague, but is it going to kill us to at the very least give them at least a dollar or two? It’s not so much about the money however much or little or what he might use it for as it is about acknowledging their humanity at least in some small way.
bethanyF on February 25, 2010 at 9:13 am
Mercy and Justice is so hard. Especially when we feel like we are trying our hardest and we keep getting shut down. We have to praise God in all things.
Gary4orphans on February 25, 2010 at 11:23 am
With regards to Mike’s post we all know the root problem is with people who don’t know Jesus. The ones under conviction of the Holy Spirit don’t do or approve of such atrocities and those absent that conviction do whatever they please. Yes, outwardly the Nazi’s looked like anybody else, but INWARDLY, well, that’s a different matter. They and those like them are “empty shirts” – nothing of value on the inside.
Regarding the comments about helping the poor. I think discernment and balance working together is in order. By that I mean, I never hesitate to buy food for a homeless person but I very rarely hand anyone cash. If I buy a meal, there isn’t much else they can do with it but eat it. If I give cash, it could be used for all manner of destructive things such as but not limited to alcohol, tabacco and of course street drugs. SHOULD we help homeless people? Of course we should. Is handing them CASH the best way to do that? Most probably not. But having said that, I try to remain open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and on rare occasion, I feel led to hand out a couple of dollars or so. I always make sure to pray the person will use the money to buy food or something beneficial.
Lastly, I understand the purpose of this blog is not to advertise or otherwise “solicit” anything so I’m careful not to specify my specific charity ministry but in broad, generic terms, I know because I work in the charity “industry” that the economy has greatly reduced donations. Generically then I ask that we pray for others, and for ourselves, to remember the poor and support a charity or non-profit. The specific one isn’t important, let God lead on that, but find SOME charity or non-profit ministering to the poor and faithfully support their work regardless of amount. We have one person who faithfully gives $2.00 a month. God bless her.
chona2worship on February 25, 2010 at 12:46 pm
I’ve learned early that the opposite of love is not hate but apathy.people are apathetic to the sufferings of the people around them.It’s so easy to say “oh, how horrible or poor people “when one sees some people suffering but then after being exposed to the flights and sufferings,some gets so used to it that it wouldn’t affect them anymore,I think the best time to respond is asap.But of course that after asking for the guidance of the Holy Spirit regadring the matter.
mike wittmer on February 25, 2010 at 1:44 pm
You all make very good comments–thank you. My largest struggle–okay, sin–is that it’s so easy to think of reasons why I shouldn’t share with others. It would be awkward, uncomfortable, they probably somehow brought this on themselves, etc. May God give me and all of us the grace to live with open hands and hearts!
fieldlily on February 25, 2010 at 11:23 pm
Doing the right thing. We are taught by Jesus what that is, loving the Lord with all we are and our neighbors as ourselves. Sometimes though we get carried away by what we believe is best for others or that someone else is already taking care of it. We can pass the buck or blame and say, like Pilate, that something is wrong but leave us out of it. Or as with the crowd around you yelling crucify, keeping quiet or wondering if maybe they are right and you are wrong. Those people were all just like us. Some had probably been following Jesus from town to town up until He had been arrested. Fear, doubt, need, they all cause us to feel lost and confused.
Helping those in need as Jesus did and giving Himself completely on the cross for us is something that makes me feel small and weak, as I am. I have to remind myself that my strength comes from Christ and I can’t do anything on my own. I have to pray daily, hourly, minute by minute to live to honor God and not myself. I need reminders that all I have is from the Lord and as He has given to me I need to give to others and not feel righteous when I do. I need to remember to give continuously and not just here and there.
Thank you for this reminder.