Try being silly today

Grownups aren't always good at trying things like that. In this week's Gospel (Luke 23:1-49), no one wanted to do a "silly" thing like following Jesus -- and they let Jesus be killed instead.

The people who hated Jesus said He was starting a war, so Jesus was arrested and brought to their rulers, Pilate and Herod. Both found Him "not guilty," but the people begged until Pilate let them take Jesus away to be killed. As He walked up the hill to be crucified, Jesus' followers cried because He was going to die, and even a thief crucified with Jesus said He was innocent. But a few hours later, Jesus cried, "Father, I put my spirit into your hands," and died. And then the people said, "This man did nothing wrong."

The people in Jesus' time didn't understand that. Like some grownups today, they thought Jesus' teachings were silly and wouldn't give Him a chance.

People who won't be silly sometimes are probably not very happy, and they get angry when others are silly -- because they're jealous. The people who hated Jesus were like that. They couldn't understand Jesus, so they got mad and decided to have Him killed. But after He died, they wished they could have known Him.

It's never too late to be silly. Blow bubbles, say the alphabet backwards or play the kazoo. Don't give up on something because it seems a little crazy. Remember, Jesus' real followers didn't give up on Him -- and it turned out that He wasn't crazy at all!

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, teach me to be as silly as I want to be -- and remember you'd probably try silly things, too! Amen.