The "defects" of Jesus (Part 8)

(8) Jesus like crazy
During court in Pilate's palace when that time Jesus was under the test of Pilate,Pilate's soldiers put a red cloak on Jesus,the crown of thorns on His head and mocked Him like Him a madman. Not only outsiders,but even Peter,who was appointed by Jesus that he would be the head of His church ("And I tell you, you are Peter,and on this rock I Will build my church, and the gates of hell shall is not prevail Against it"(Mt. 16, 18),Peter a disciple who Jesus loved and trust as such doesn't bear the words which sounded like Jesus was crazy when He said that He must go to Jerusalem,suffer many suffering by the elders, the chief priests and scribes cause, then killed, and the third day would rise again, therefore Peter did rebuke Him: (21 From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”(Matt 16,21-22))

How crazy is Jesus called the disciples to follow Him, at the same time, announced He would suffer pain, killed; and more crazy when Jesus said that three days after His death He would revive! Throughout the book pages of Gospel also make us surprised about attitude and His strange words: 27 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. ....”(Lk. 6, 27-31)

How could they listen to those words when the mind of people with the mood ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’!

And I would like to tell you my experience of the message "crazy" of Jesus: When I was many years in prison at homeland, sometimes the prison guard talking to me, they wondering and surprising as they saw my attitude: smiling, friendly to them. They asked me why in the miserable situation in the prison that I could calm and tolerance like! (I had the opportunity to share experiences in the book "Five loaves and two fish" that I just popular for this year). But here I want to say, it is the "foolishness" of God's love for me, for all the "defects" of Jesus made me more passionate; it is "the madness" of Jesus draws me to follow Jesus!(Archbishop Francois-Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan)

--> October 22, 2010 Beatification of Cardinal Francis-Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan was officially begun.