Where Were You?
Dear Friends
Where were you when they crucified?
I recently visited the crossroad where JFK was assassinated in Dallas 43
years ago. My desire to be there is macabre, I know, but how better to
connect with the history of my youth? The place from which Lee Harvey
Oswald pulled the trigger is now a museum to the memory of a President
who challenged a nation to “ask what they could do for their country”.
Unencumbered by the culture of nineteenth century imperialism, Kennedy
created a vision for a new world order to include justice, equity and peace.
He confronted eastern bolshevism, acknowledged southern bigotry and
addressed western isolationism.
Like an earlier world figure who spent 3 years on the public stage, he
introduced hope and charm to a generation stunted by world conflict.
Outrageously he set in place a process by which mankind could escape
earth’s gravity, visit new orbs and embrace a universal perspective. No
wonder we all remember where we were when we heard of his death.
There is a cross on another road I need to visit more often, not with rubber
necking voyeurism, but to remind myself of the man who asked not what the
world could do for Him, but to demonstrate what He could do for the world,
and to remind myself of where I was when He died.
Thank you for being one of those tour guides who expose the conspiracies
of men and bring to life the experience of His story.
Yours truly,
Victor Pilmoor
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 NLT
“ Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him.
When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left.
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.
The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine.
They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
A sign was fastened to the cross above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”
One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”
But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die?
We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
By this time it was noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock.
The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle.
Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.
When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, “Surely this man was innocent.”
And when all the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow.”
Luke 23 : 32 - 48 (NLT)
“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2: 20 (NLT)