I always wonder, as we approach Easter each year, what it would have been like living in Jerusalem at the time of the horrible events leading to Jesus' death. How would I have responded?
If I had been a Roman, I most likely would have been a soldier, so I probably wouldn't have cared much what was happening to a Jew. Had I been a foreigner, perhaps a visiting merchant, I probably would have tried to stay away from anything political that might hurt my business. If I was one of the Jews, then I would have perhaps responded with anger, like that displayed by the crowd that the Jewish leaders whipped up, or I might be a coward, like Jesus'
disciples when He was arrested. Perhaps I might have been selfish, like so many who were healed or freed from demons, but then didn't care after that, being only interested in what they could get from Him. Maybe I might indeed have been concerned, but not wanting to offend anyone in charge. Or perhaps I would have been disillusioned, hoping that this Messiah would have indeed restored the kingdom militarily at this stage. Or maybe just plain confused? I suppose there would
have been other possible attitudes as well.
Which one would I have been? Or you? How would you or I have treated Him? -- Apathy? Anger? Fear? Uncaring? Not wanting to be committed, or to offend anyone? Selfish? Disillusioned?
Perhaps more to the point - How do we treat Him now? How do we treat His Word? He forgave their many weaknesses back then, and many of those people turned into great witnesses to the Truth. How are we doing?...
