Good Friday

Today during the Good Friday service, the whole account of Jesus' last days from Matthew was read. It is not often that such a large chunk of scripture is read and where one gets a feel for the whole flow of the emotions of the events of Jesus' life just before His death on the cross. Also it gives a chance to be "struck" with a new understanding of scriptures which are so familiar.

One thing that I saw today was the betrayal of Judas. Jesus pointing him out as His betrayer at the last supper, then his approaching Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, signaling by his kiss that He was the one to be arrested. When the chief priests came to their decision to put Jesus to death, Judas was "seized with remorse." (Mt 27:3) and he tried to return the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and elders. They wouldn't accept Judas' confession that he had betrayed innocent blood saying "What is that to us? That's your responsibility." (Mt 27:4) Judas couldn't live with that responsibility and went out and hung himself.

It is interesting that a little further along, Jesus stood before Pilate and was accused by the chief priests and elders. Pilate realized that Jesus was innocent yet was persuaded by the crowd who were incited by the chief priests and elders to order Jesus to be crucified. Pilate washed his hands saying "I am innocent of this man's blood. It is your responsibility." (Mt 27:24)

The chief priests and elders put the blame on Judas for betraying innocent blood but later that day were given the responsibility for crucifying Jesus by Pilate. It leaves us to our inspiration of what their response was - but through subsequent events, it does not seem that they were remorseful at all.

I'll leave it at that as I am still trying to sort out the many thoughts I have about this. I challenge you to think about it too.

Oh Detroit

Today I saw a video that the rapper Eminem made about Detroit as the city hosted the NCAA basketball Final Four tournament this past weekend. You can see it on the following website (unfortunately not the original site)

http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/33860460.html

I have been thinking a lot about Detroit and will continue to do so. I believe it is a very unique city. It is nice to see Eminem bring out the strengths in the midst of the weaknesses. Detroit is a clash of opposites. It is depressing and it is inspiring. It is dying yet it is alive. It is scary and it is comforting. Its streets produce fear and familiarity. It is violent and it is peaceful. It is frustrating and it is rewarding. I have experienced Detroit.

What makes Detroit I conclude is its people. The auto worker on the assembly line. The homeless man huddled on the corner. The senior citizens with such great hearts. The families looking out for each other. The slow moving clerk behind the counter. The down and out veteran offering an encouraging word to another. The child longing for his family to stop grieving violent losses. The school teacher trying to be a good example. The man selling the newspaper in the middle of the street. The woman singing her heart out in the church choir. The emergency medical technician pulling the driver from a wrecked car. The fans at a Detroit Tigers baseball game. The security guard escorting an unruly customer out. The young adult struggling to learn to read. The guy selling crawdads on the corner.... I could go on and on.

Detroit is not the fancy Renaissance Center nor is it the empty falling down buildings, it is its people. Here's to Detroit!