Cross Talk

The Romans are honorably remembered for their great achievements. Two 'stand outs' in my mind would probably be the Roman roads and the Roman Law. Nevertheless, with regards to 'The Roman Law', there was an element of cruelty in their punishment of certain criminals. Death by crucifixion was perhaps its worse form of punishment. Were I an investigative reporter in Jerusalem at the time of Christ's death on the cross, you would probably find me among trees in a forest or some other tree supply source for building crosses. I would be recording a conversation between trees who wondered among themselves which of them would be used. I would especially be concerned with the tree or trees that were especially set aside to be utilized for three convicts. There would be a dialogue between trees that would probably go something like this: Oak Tree said to Cedar Tree, "Have you heard about the three guys they are planning to put to death?" Cedar Tree replied, "I'm sure I heard the same news as you. That is, that the good people and citizens of Rome feel that two of them deserve what's coming to them. To be honest, I'm not sure if anyone deserves to be crucified. But there is one called Jesus in whom the Roman ruler can find no fault. Nevertheless, he will be crucified anyway." Oak Tree said, "I am so relieved that I will not be a party to the death of that good and innocent man Jesus. I could not live with the reality of his blood running down my wood. Cedar Tree said, "O, I feel the same way. How can they do such an unjust thing? All he ever did was heal lots of sick and crippled people, give sight to the blind, cast out demons, cleanse the lepers, bless the children, and teach the truth about God. I heard of at least two who were raised from the dead; and I heard that he fed 5000 people at one time with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread. He even turned water to wine, walked on water and calmed a raging sea. Have they no conscious?" They both agreed that there was nothing that they could do about the crucifixion of Jesus. But they could continue growing strong and tall, providing firewood for cooking, heat and warmth, and cool shade to all who needed them. The two of them believed that there was a plan and a purpose for his death. They also heard about a coming resurrection on the third day; and they believed that too. 04112017 cj PS