"And Jesus stood before the governor and questioned Him the governor saying You are the King of the Jews-- And Jesus said You say." (Matthew 27:11, Greek Text)
This is "Holocaust Remembrance Day," the day when Russian Forces liberated the Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Many of the soldiers were very kind to the living victims of this German atrocity, contrary to what far too many of them did to the German population, especially women, as they entered Germany. Some have said about all of this, "Where was God?" My response always has been: Where He always was/is/and ever shall be. I have no other "answer."
Our text today is for me an answer to a confused humanity's, "Where was God in all of this?" Mankind observes such unbelievable atrocities, some "man made," some of "nature," and just cannot "understand." Many blame God, Who to them is, if indeed they actually believe He exists, the god of the deists, "out there," having created, but left us to our own devices. God must be "gone," even forgotten about us and the human condition, a sort of, "You broke it; you fix it." The desire in humanity to understand, to have reasons, explanations, answers is never-ending.
Then today we read of, "The Word of God," Our Lord/King/Savior/Deliverer, Jesus the Christ, before the the First Century's super power. The world believes that Jesus was brought to the Roman Governor by the religious leaders of the Jews, then was tried, convicted, and sent to, "the death of the Cross," by man. He was not! Jesus tells us, "I Am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep....No one takes [My life] from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father."
"Where was God" at Auschwitz? "Where was God" in your deepest hour of suffering? Some may even be asking, "Where is God now in my life?" Jesus is at the same "place" He was before the Sanhedrin, before Pilate, on the Cross, at His Death and Resurrection. Jesus, "Himself bore our sins in His Own Body on the Tree." He bore the atrocity of Auschwitz, the atrocity of your sin and my sin, "in His Cross." And right now, in this very moment, Jesus is in the "Throne Room of Glory," bearing those "unanswered" questions, that pain and bewilderment, and affirming to you and me, "I will never, no never leave you nor forsake you"; therefore, right in this very moment, you and I can take unspeakable comfort in the reality of Hebrews 7:25, "He always lives to intercede for them."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that I never have to wonder, "Where are You!" Amen.
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Conference Prayer Call January 29, at 9:00 PM
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
