What's Your Response?

​It’s an election year here in Belize. Our government is structured similar to Canada or New Zealand. We are led by a prime minister and two houses of legislation - a senate composed of members appointed by the current government, and a house of representatives elected from the six districts in Belize. As a permanent resident but not a citizen, I do not have the right to vote here, but I still try to understand the political system.
 
As in any political climate, the responses from the Belizean people are varied. Some believe the current political party is the answer to all of the country’s hardships. Others believe this party will bring nothing but destruction to the people and economy. The same is true for the opposing party. Some tolerate the current leadership; others vocally oppose it. There is no end to the varied responses to change brought about by those in authority.

To say that Jesus brought change into the world is an understatement. He wasn’t what people expected, yet He fulfilled over 300 prophecies from the Old Testament. The Gospels record various responses that people had to Jesus:

• The high priests and religious leaders were jealous and plotted His death (Matt. 27:1-2)
• Judas betrayed Him (John 18:2-6)
• Pilate washed his hands of Him (Mt 27:24)
• The crowd praised Him and then called for His crucifixion (Mark 11:8-10; Matt. 27: 22-23)
• Soldiers mocked Him (Mark 15:16-20)
• Simon from Cyrene has his life interrupted by Him (Mark 15:21)
• Criminals on the cross insulted Him (Matt. 27:44)
• One criminal on the cross believed in Him (Luke 23:42)
• The captain of the guard recognized Him as the Son of God (Mark 15:39)
• Joseph of Arimathea honored Him (Luke 23:50-54)
• Mary and the women followed Him (John 19:25)
• Herod saw Him as a spectacle and wanted to be entertained by Him (Luke 23:8-10)
• Two men on the road to Emmaus failed to recognize Him (Luke 24:13-32)
• Thomas doubted Him (John 20:24-25)
• Peter denied Him (John 18:27)
• Annas interrogated Him (John 18:19)
• Nicodemus revered Him (John 19:39)
• The disciples acknowledged Him (John 21:7)

 
Today, almost 2,000 years later, people still respond to Jesus in a multitude of different ways. You, friend, have a choice of how you will respond to Him, too. 
 
Here’s the amazing part.
 
Jesus has only ever had ONE response to us: love and forgiveness.
 
No matter how many ways we see ourselves and those around us responding to Jesus, He never wavers. He only sees us through eyes of perfect love. He unendingly offers forgiveness. 
 
How have you found yourself responding to Jesus? Have you washed your hands of Him like Pilate did? Have you insulted Him like the criminals on the cross? Maybe you’ve found yourself praising Him one day and cursing Him the next, like the crowd did. 
 
Whatever your past responses may have been, it is your response to Him today that matters. Accept His love and forgiveness with a humble, “Thank you, Jesus!”

Memory Verse: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38

About the Author

My name is Heather Kenny and I love investing in people! Though I started out working as a registered nurse in cardiac care for almost 15 years, God has steered me into several different directions since then. His plan included years in children's ministry and eventually leadership development in local churches, a gig as a church consultant, and currently I co-own/manage a beach club in Placencia, Belize! My husband and I have been married for almost 24 years. Our older son is in the Air Force, and our younger son lives with us here in a little wooden house on the beautiful beach of Belize. I try to capture some of the lessons God is teaching me through my blog, www.leadingfromthedeepend.com.