Readings: John 7:40-53The chief priests and the Pharisees were already condemning Jesus without ever having met him and talking with him. They were making their judgments on hearsay and rumor. They even said the common people were worthless and lost. Nicodemus said to them, “Since when does our law condemn any man without first hearing him and knowing the facts?” That is a statement we should all give considerable thought to.
We all probably tend to make judgments about the worth of others without ever having met them. Sometimes people are condemned merely because they are of a particular race, religion, or nationality. How many millions of Catholics are written off as worthless and destined to hell by Protestants just because they are Catholic? How many Catholics do the same to Protestants? Remember the Irish when they first came to America. Just because they were Irish they were already considered by others as second or third class people. We are all quite aware of the prejudice against blacks, Indians, American Mexicans, and many others in this country. In fact, everyone is looked down upon by someone just because of being lumped into some group category.
Is that how you make your judgments of others? If so, then you are no different than the priests and Pharisees who were unwilling to give Jesus an even break. Every person deserves to be taken as a unique, special individual. Each human being, even each animal, is different in quality and traits. Never allow yourself to be prejudiced against anyone before you’ve met him and have gotten to know him. In each one is Christ. Would you dare condemn Him?
We all probably tend to make judgments about the worth of others without ever having met them. Sometimes people are condemned merely because they are of a particular race, religion, or nationality. How many millions of Catholics are written off as worthless and destined to hell by Protestants just because they are Catholic? How many Catholics do the same to Protestants? Remember the Irish when they first came to America. Just because they were Irish they were already considered by others as second or third class people. We are all quite aware of the prejudice against blacks, Indians, American Mexicans, and many others in this country. In fact, everyone is looked down upon by someone just because of being lumped into some group category.
Is that how you make your judgments of others? If so, then you are no different than the priests and Pharisees who were unwilling to give Jesus an even break. Every person deserves to be taken as a unique, special individual. Each human being, even each animal, is different in quality and traits. Never allow yourself to be prejudiced against anyone before you’ve met him and have gotten to know him. In each one is Christ. Would you dare condemn Him?
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