Were you there?
Hello.
Sometimes there are events so indelibly etched in our memories that we recall them easily.
For me one of them was the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the US, just 25 years ago today. A friend of ours rang to tell us to switch on the TV news. We watched in shock and horror as separate planes targeted the Twin Towers, causing them to collapse before our very eyes, another plane crashed into the Pentagon, and United Airlines flight 93 went down.
Another memory was the assassination of John F Kennedy in 1963. I remember my grandfather returning home in tears after he’d heard what happened.
Johnny Cash challenged us in his Gospel song to remember the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. “Were you there”, he sang, “when they crucified my Lord?” Of course, none of us was there physically, but spiritually all of humanity was present when Christ died “for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2 NIV) “Sometimes it causes me to tremble” the song’s lyrics continue before pointing out that God raised Jesus to eternal life.
Just like there are events in our personal lives or on the world scene that affect us emotionally as we look back on them, so let the story of Jesus convict us and also encourage us.
In these uncertain times, let’s turn to Jesus.
Best regards,
James
About the Writer:
James Henderson is a Minister in Grace Communion International.