The Defense Chief of North Korea, Hyon Yong Chol, was executed last week with an anti-aircraft gun at a public gathering. He is one of 70 officials to have been executed since 2011. Hyon Yong Chol’s crime was falling asleep during a meeting when Kim Jong Un, the country’s leader, was speaking. Oh, dear. I am so glad our God is much more gracious than Kim Jong Un. I could not count the number of times I have fallen asleep in church. I have often wished men’s suits came with very high, very stiff collars so my head would not flop around when I drift off. If a fashion designer came up with such a style I’m sure it would be a big seller for I do not think I am the only one guilty.
According to Kim Jong Un’s behavior, Jesus would have had ample excuse for executing His disciples. We read in Matthew 26, “Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. ‘Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?’ he asked Peter.”
How reassuring it is to know that Jesus understands. He said, “the flesh is weak.” He knew. He fell into the nets in His disciple’s fishing boat and slept so soundly He did not awaken in a raging storm until His frightened disciples woke Him. I am so glad our Jesus experienced almost the entire human experience. He was a baby, an adolescent, and a young man. He did miss out on this old man thing, which I must say is very different from being thirty. But if He was successful up to His mid-thirties, and He was, He could have handled the senior citizen thing.
Written by Roger Bothwell on May 19, 2015
PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
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