Sunday

We drove into Ajo (ah-hoe) today and joined in worship of God at Ajo Calvary Baptist Church. It was nice to be in worship with other Christians. Ajo is a small town, and the church reminded me of the one I grew up in by size. I guess they have a lot of "snow birds" who are winter members there. The pastor prayed for those who would be traveling away this week.

The pastor shared about how all of us are represented in the people who mocked Jesus in Matthew 27: 27-44. There are the Roman soldiers (who probably weren't actually Romans at all, but conscripted soldiers from another conquered land. They didn't know who Jesus was, and didn't care; they mocked him just because that was the thing to do. Then there were the thieves who were also being crucified that day; at least one of them also mocked Jesus, even though they were being punished for doing wrong, and He had done no wrong. There were the Jewish people who were in Jerusalem because it was the Passover. They would have known about Jesus and what he had been doing; some of them probably were in the crowd who called out "Hosanna to the King!" just the week before. But, they were looking for a political ruler, and when Jesus didn't satisfy their image of what the King should be, they also turned against Him and mocked Him. Finally, there were the religious leaders; they would have known the prophesies and should have recognized Jesus as their long awaited Messiah, but they were more faithful to their society of belief than to the Savior, so they also mocked Him.

But, the Bible also tells us that one of the Roman soldiers, a centurion, recognized Jesus at the foot of the cross (Luke 23:47). It tells us that one of the thieves recognized that Jesus was not guilty and asked to be remembered when Jesus came into His kingdom (Luke 23:42) and Jesus told him that he would be with Him in paradise (Luke 23:44). Some of those crowds who were in Jerusalem for the Passover were still there when Peter preached in Acts 2 and recognized their sin and desired to repent (Acts 2:37); Acts 2:41 indicates that about 3000 were saved that day. And, finally, Acts 6:7 tells us that a number of priests also became believers.

We may find ourselves today mocking Jesus or His church because "it's the cool thing to do" or because we don't see ourselves as God sees us. We might mock because Jesus or His church are not how we would have done it if we were God ("I can't believe that a loving God would..."), even if the Bible tells us clearly. I recognize the need to invite God to search my heart and see if there is any wicked way in me (Ps 139: 23-24), allow Him to cleanse me! None of this mocking disqualifies me from turning from my mocking and accepting Him as Lord and Savior.

A few pictures from today:

Newly opened Sonoran Desert Conference Center (in an old school building) in Ajo. http://www.sonorandesertconferencecenter.com/

The downtown area of Ajo

Between Ajo and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is Why, Arizona.

In the pictures from our drive on Saturday, I posted a picture of a crested Organ Pipe Cactus. The information said that there were crested Saguaros too - I saw one on our way out towards Ajo.

A close-up of the top of the crested Saguaro. Isn't it "beautifully flawed"?