A long time ago there was a group of people who may have been like you. They viewed themselves as being outsiders, but they wondered if they could become accepted, part of Jesus’ group.
Having come to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover, they sought out one of Jesus’ followers named Philip. He was the easiest one for them to approach because his name was Greek just like theirs. Philip came from a predominately non-Jewish area just like they did. “Sir, we would see Jesus,” they asked.
Philip may have been the avenue in, but they were asking to see the right One.
The One who would soon lay down His life for them and the world. The One whom they would come to know as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
Do you want to know Jesus, too? He gave His life for you. The Bible tells us that although He is the Son of God, He came lowly and meek to be nailed to the cross so that the power of sin and death might be destroyed.
Sometimes people think that they have to have secret knowledge, the right words and the right attitude to be part of Jesus’ group. But that’s not true.
One of my favorite movies is Monty Python and the Holy Grail. As King Arthur and his knights seek the Holy Grail, they come to a bridge that spans an abyss of eternal peril. A bridge keeper allows people to cross the bridge only if they correctly answer three questions. Get one wrong, and you’re tossed into the pit.
Lancelot is the first tested. The keeper asks him, “What is your name?” Lancelot answers.
“What is your quest?”
Lancelot answers, “To seek the Holy Grail.”
“What is you favorite color?”
“Blue”
“Right,” says the bridge keeper, “off you go.” Lancelot crosses the bridge. Amazed that it was so easy.
The second knight similarly states his name and quest. But the third question is now, “What is the capital of Assyria?”
“I don’t know that.”
The knight is hurled, screaming into the abyss.
The third knight, Sir Galahad, is nervous as he’s asked his name and quest, but he answers correctly.
“What is you favorite color?”
Sir Galahad panics, “Blue…No,yellow…Aaaaahhhh,” he screams as he is hurled into the pit.
Finally the king steps up. “What is your name?”
“King Arthur, King of the Britons.”
“What is your quest?”
“To seek the Holy Grail.”
“What is airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?”
“What do you mean,” asks Arthur, “an African or European swallow?”
“What? I don’t know that ,” answers the bridge keeper, who immediately is launched into the abyss. Arthur and his knights thereafter cross the bridge unhindered.
Many people think that someday we’ll get to the bridge to heaven and be asked, “Why should you be allowed to cross?” As long as we answer correctly, we make it across. Answer wrongly and we’re cast into the abyss.
Jesus never said, “Now I’m going to tell the secret words you need to say if you’re going to get into heaven.” Jesus’ good news is that He is the Way in. Trusting in Him, we are members of His group and we are bound for eternal life in heaven.
If you’d like to know about Him and His love for you, let me know. Jesus is waiting to welcome you.
Paul E. Kritsch, Pastor
229 Cowperthwaite Place, Westfield NJ 07090
(908)232-1517
Fax(908)317-9301
Contact Us
