Sympathy? Sure, why not...

John 1:29

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

--------------------------------------

Just as every cop is a criminal
And all the sinners saints
As heads is tails
Just call me Lucifer
'Cause I'm in need of some restraint

So if you meet me
Have some courtesy
Have some sympathy, have some taste
Use all your well-learned politesse
Or I'll lay your soul to waste

"Sympathy for the Devil" recorded by The Rolling Stones written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards from the album "Beggars Banquet"

The Devil doesn't need a press agent. He sings his own praises pretty well on his own. Throughout this song the Devil takes credit for some of the greatest travesties and miscarriages of justice known.

Lucifer takes credit for Jesus losing faith in his father and Pilate washing his hands. He takes credit for the Russian Revolution, the Blitz, and even the deaths of John and Bobby Kennedy. The devil dances with his fiddle while the world burns. There is joy and there is glee as the work of the opponent (the literal translation of "satan" from Hebrew) marches merrily along.

Lucifer loves himself and proclaims his victories. Cops are criminals, sinners are saints, heads are tails--Lucifer is in control and is in need of restraint. So show him some sympathy, show some courtesy, show some restraint, or else... or else sin incarnate, the embodiment of sin in this world will lay your soul to waste.

What the Stones play in ten minutes in this video John the Baptist negates in fifteen words. “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" That's it. John doesn't deny that there is sin, or that sin is a horrible thing. He doesn't even say when or how the Lamb of God will take away the sin of the world. But when he sees Jesus he proclaims  “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

Our hope? Lucifer doesn't stand a chance.

Matthew 5:44 says love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Does this include Lucifer? Why not? Does this mean we should have sympathy for the devil? Knowing that, as John says, the Lamb of God will take away Lucifer, take away the sin of the world; we can afford to have sympathy. But we can't afford to fall for his tricks. The devil's gonna get his due, Lucifer will be defeated. The Lamb of God will take away the sin of the world.

Let Mick sing. Let him boast today. Tomorrow's gonna be a whole new ball game.

Mistaken Identity

John 8:23

He said to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The police in New York City,
they chased a boy right through the park.
And in a case of mistaken identity
they put a bullet through his heart.

"Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" by the Rolling Stones, written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards

A case of mistaken identity... this song was written in 1972. It begins with the true story of a ten year old boy who was shot and killed after being mistaken for a bank robber.

On the human level, the death of Jesus is a case of mistaken identity. The temple elite thought that Rome would remove them from leadership if the people rioted at Passover, a very real possibility. One of the Chief Priests says it is better for one man to die. Who knew they had picked the wrong man and the right man all at the same time.

It's better for one man to die. And after all, there was a new prophet in town and he is filled with the spirit of God. He performs miracles, he heals, and he teaches that the kingdom of God is come. At the same time, he doesn't teach civil disobedience. He told the people to pay their taxes. He tells the people if they are conscripted to carry a soldier's pack one mile he should carry it for two. In meekness and humility, he has become the most seditious prophet ever. Then again, that part's true.

In this passage from John, Jesus tells the people that he is not like them. Anyone who thinks that Jesus is like them is quite wrong. He's divine in ways we can only dream but really can't imagine. He's even human in ways that our sin soaked lives can't approach. We aren't like him, yet because there are people who think he's just another man he will be crucified.

In a case of mistaken identity, they hung him upon the cross.

The good news for us is that this had to happen. This is what was supposed to happen. Untimely death for unjust causes is always a heartbreaker, but it's the resurrection that follows that brings glory to this life.

Rollin' the Bones, Castin' the Lots

Acts 1:24-26

Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Always in a hurry, I never stop to worry
Don't see the time flashin' by
Honey, got no money
I'm all sixes and sevens and nines
Say now, baby, I'm the rank outsider
You can be my partner in crime

But baby, get it straight
You got to roll me and call me the tumblin'
Roll me and call me the tumblin' dice

"Tumblin' Dice" by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards recorded by The Rolling Stones

In my faith tradition, the selection of church leaders can be a long and convoluted process. The selection of either Deacons (a ministry of compassion) Elders (a ministry of leadership) begins with a nominating committee. They prayerfully consider those in the congregation who the Lord wants to serve the church. That's right, it's not who they think should lead, they are to discern who God has already called. If they accept the Committee's nomination then the congregation elects them... or not.

Don't get me started on what it takes to ordain and install a Minister in my denomination. There are books written on that subject.

In Acts, the eleven know it's time to be twelve again. They have a set of qualifications. The new 12th will be "one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us--one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection." (Acts 1:21-22) They know who it should be, they just don't know how to pick between the two they finally identified, so they cast lots.

They take a "rank outsider" and make them a full "partner in crime." They do this by rollin' the bones, tumblin' the dice, castin' the lots. They trust not in chance, but that by this humanly random act the divine will intervene and show them the way. They trust the sovereignty of God to take dominion over the lot.

I'm not saying you should flip a coin in the name of the Lord, but I am saying that to make important decisions we must first consider what is important to God, as the eleven did when nominating the 12th. Then let God show you the way. Have faith, trust in the word of the Lord, and know God is always in control.