Contemplative Bible Reading

Matthew 27:1 (New Living Translation)

Very early in the morning the leading priests and the elders of the people met again to lay plans for putting Jesus to death.

This verse is from the (hi)story of the crucifixion of Jesus. We look back on those who had Jesus arrested and executed with all sorts of emotion and labels—mostly bad emotion and labels. They were callous, mean, stupid and just plain wrong.

Were they?

Here we read that “the Elders of the people” planned how they would kill Jesus. These were not “fill-in-the-blank extremists” as we say today. The Elders of the people were well-respected persons chosen by the people for wisdom in life and living.

These well-known and highly respected persons were just plain wrong. How did that happen? How did the people choose these Elders who were supposed to be wise and decide wisely and be right? And here, they were just plain wrong.

Experts? Just plain wrong? Yes. Nothing much has changed in a few thousand years. Our experts and ourselves are still often just plain wrong.

This is the human condition. Sin and failure. Still, God redeems us, God accepts us. Thank you God for your grace. Grant me humility as I am often just plain wrong.