CRU Update

When you think of Jesus, what do you see? Perhaps a more important question to consider is, “Who is Jesus to you”? What is His identity?

Visiting the Christian Studies building last Friday lunchtime for our weekly CRU gathering was Tom Wilson from the CRU organisation. During a quick interview, we heard about how he visits various schools every week and runs camps during the holidays, such as CrossTrain. You can sign up for CrossTrain, a great camp to help you live for Jesus at school, along with many other CRU activities or study camps in this upcoming winter holidays at crucamps.com.au

Tom then spoke to us on a passage from Mark 8. In this story, some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and Tom mentioned how this man would likely have been an outcast of society at the time. Jesus then healed the blind man, rather strangely, as he spat on his eyes. However, it seemed that He actually failed the first time, as the man could only see people that looked like trees. After the man’s sight was fully restored, the passage went on to another story, actually reflecting the healing of the blind man. Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, correctly identified Jesus as the Messiah, but He could not accept that Jesus would suffer at the hands of the chief priests and teachers of the law. This reflects the half-blindness of the man, as Peter only half understood Jesus’ identity and mission. Jesus wanted Peter to know that he is the Messiah or God’s King (Peter gets that), but he is the Messiah who will die on a Cross for our forgiveness. Tom also explained that Jesus had to tell both the man and Peter to stay quiet about Him for the time being, so that He would be able to make it to the cross, where He died for us. Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection that followed is what gives us the opportunity for forgiveness and eternal life. So, who is Jesus to you? “

Daniel Becker
Year 11