March 29th, 2012

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TwoSides

Thursday, March 29th, 2012

Have you ever seen the movie Dark Knight?  I know one person who has.  This guy will tell you it is his favorite movie.   While it is a good movie, everyone who knows me will say my favorite is this one.  Anyhow…back to my idea.  If you have seen Dark Knight then you will know that one of the habits of the District Attorney, who eventually become known as “Two Face” because of a gruesome accident, is flipping a coin and saying, “Heads or Tails.”   He always wins.  Near the end of the movie we find out why:  the coin is the same on both sides.

Everyone knows there are  two sides to every story.  There are two sides to every coin.  Any good counselor knows there are two sides to every story.  Every wise pastor knows there are two sides to every story.  A wise friend will listen, but will also listen with both eyes open, because…there are two sides to every story.

You have seen it, as have I.  Two people, sometimes from the same family, living and working side by side, take different paths.  Same parents. Same love.  Two different characters and two different results.   We have that in the Bible.  More specifically, in the life of Jesus.  Two men who lived, laughed, ministered, cried (maybe), right alongside Jesus…but with two different results.

PETER…AND…JUDAS

Names ring a bell?  I’m sure they do.  One man failed miserably and ended it all. One man failed miserably and turned it around.  One man sold his soul for cheap money. One man traded his during a moment of fear.  One man lost out.  One man won.  I am sure you know the difference between the two.  Judas, the traitor, sold his Lord and his soul for 30 pieces of silver.  Eventually realizing the destitution of his act, he returned the money, but refused to see the life of forgiveness Jesus offers.  He went out and hanged hung dangled himself from a tree.  Peter denied his Lord and any connection to Him (as Jesus said he would), but when he heard the cock crow, went out and wept bitterly.  But repentance is a funny (not haha) thing: it restores your soul.  It gives hope.

TWO SIDES. ONE HOPELESS.  ONE HOPEFUL.  ONE LOST. ONE FOUND.

This Sunday, Palm Sunday, will feature Peter and Judas.  My series,  Transformed by His Presence, is taking a look at people transformed by being in the presence of Jesus.   No two people give us a better picture of the reaction toward Jesus than these two.  I know you have a ton of things to do and pray for, but would you please include me in those prayers?  Thanks.

What is your take on Peter and Judas?  Do you see yourself in either? Do you have trouble with repentance?