Friday's Thoughts

Some of the most interesting parts of the Christian story are only mentioned in a peripheral way. We are encouraged to stretch our minds and imaginations to get a better look at what's really going on in the story and what is being said to us.
For example; we are told there was an inn where Mary and Joseph stayed the night Jesus was born. We are told there was no room in the inn but they were allowed to stay in the cave behind the inn where the livestock was kept. If there was an inn then there must have been an Innkeeper who saw the Christ Child in the cradle. John Piper imagines the Innkeeper's struggles which came as a result of the fact that he had risked his own safety by housing the Messiah.

Then there was the Centurion who is mentioned as having seen Jesus on the cross and having heard the man on the cross beside him saying, "Jesus, remember me when you come to paradise". The Centurion then is to have said, "Surely, this man is a Son of God." The Centurion admired the Messiah on the cross.

Then there was the owner of the Upper Room who opened his home to Jesus and the disciples. What did he see? He saw the table and he may have heard Jesus say, "This is my body and this is my blood, take this and remember me." The owner of the upper room may have been the first to realize that Christians are not admirers, nor are they protectors of Christ, but we are carriers of Christ and we are called to be Christ to each other.

The Innkeeper, the Centurion, and the owner of the Upper Room each came to see different aspects of Jesus life. Each knew a part of it. We celebrate Christmas and we become protective of the child. We remember Good Friday and we become admirers of the Christ. We come to the table and from our vantage point we realize both the protector role and the admirer role, but we understand our primary obligation, as Christians, is to be carriers of the Christ.

We learn this by looking at the peripheral people in the story.

What do you think? How do we do this? If you have thoughts write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your response click on the box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster