It is important to see Scripture with the perspective of God's character. Always. Sometimes we have to see past our initial interpretation, especially when it is not consistent with His character.

What do we do with these verses that portray God in a harsh, judgmental light?

Because God is love (1 Jn 4:16), I look at Scripture to see what love looks like in the situation.

During the Passover celebration with His disciples Jesus states that He will be betrayed by one sitting with Him. He goes on to say, "The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born."

I've always read this with a sense of condemnation upon Judas. God's judgment upon His actions.
Yet, looking for His love in that moment, as Jesus considers what is now set in motion, He speaks with loving compassion. He knows what is ahead for Judas. He feels for this man, a known thief who was misled, who allowed Satan to define his actions.

The Son of Man was expressing compassion for His traitor. He was lost in thoughts of remorse for this man who would kill himself when he realized what he had done. His heart was heavy for one He considered a friend that had gone astray.
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Yes, this is the character of my God….And praise this God who knows of our missteps and stands with compassion reminding us that we ARE forgiven, that we do not need to consider punishing ourselves, but rather are invited into His everlasting arms, embrace and love. Always!

Man’s body is fashioned and then God’s Spirit is breathed into the shell, enlivening us.

The Israelites built the tabernacle and temples and only when the shell was complete did the Presence arrive.

Scripture says that the last shall be first. Could this refer to what has true value? The last thing added was Him and that truly is of most value.

Deconstruction brings us to see beyond the physical; beyond the physical body, the behaviors and the actions to our core, the inner altar of His presence within.
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WITHIN, with (Him) in (our very core) is where we live, entangled, peaceful, fearless and innocent. From here, bypassing the mind and the ego, we finally see.

Consider…be the blessing others need

As I look at the concept of blessings/bless/blessed, after the resurrection, I do not find a multitude of verses suggesting God blesses us for 'good' behavior, actions, thoughts or emotions. What I found was that blessings are given out by the believer. We get to bless those who “curse us” and blessings have equipped us for sharing our Source.

Jesus lives within the believer. We no longer need blessing, we have received Him, our blessing, everything we need for life and godliness. Every spiritual blessing in Him is in us. Jesus says, "It is more blessed to give than receive." Blessings are not really for us, they are a manifestation of His life within us, toward others.
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In James we read that a person "looks into the perfect law of liberty and what they do will be blessed." This is not saying that because you look in the law of liberty you will be blessed. Rather it tells us that as you look into the perfect law of liberty (Jesus's death, burial and resurrection) you realize that you ARE blessed and the things that come forth from you, in life, to other are blessings. We already possess the blessing. It is ours to pour out upon the earth.

Jesus says, "Lazarus come forth." And he comes out bound hand and foot with grave clothes with his face still wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them (the family and friends and mourners present), "LOOSE HIM AND LET HIM GO."

Lazarus was alive, again, but the people around him had to remove the remnant of his death - his grave clothes…and then they released Him. They didn’t lead him to church or the prayer meeting. They let him “find himself” (Christ in him).

I don’t think God is so concerned about the paths we take. He is the Father, giving the full inheritance to His sons and daughters, knowing they may make choices with consequences, but knowing they will return.

Do we (the dead still bound in some ways) get to choose those we trust to remove our grave clothes? Do we allow only brothers and sisters in the faith, near? Only the high and mighty? Or do we trust that our release from death can be brought even by the lowly, weak, and even those that believe differently?

Do we truth Him with ourselves and others?

I don’t pretend to know what John Lynch would say, although I do remember (hopefully correctly) that he wished his gay barista congratulations on his upcoming wedding. Love offered. The finest drink of all.

Love first, allow Him to draw us all into His love.
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I think in allowing all others near is the fullest healing possible.

John 13:10 Jesus said to him (Peter), "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean..."
Why only the feet?
Feet walk in the dust. They touch the earth. They step on the 'natural'.
Your head may think it, mouth may speak or eat it, hands may touch it, but ultimately, metaphorically, your feet bring you there.
Here is the picture - only the part of you that touches the worldly, natural, carnal gets soiled. Only the 'outer' can get soiled. Inside you, in your spirit, you are a new creation. HE SAYS you are a saint, holy and blameless, precious in His sight, absolutely righteous.
Consider this, the Biblical definition of repentance is to do a 180 degree turn from where you are to the exact opposite. We turn ON OUR HEELS and WALK the other way. It's a feet issue. If our feet didn't touch and interact with the natural we couldn't get dirty outside and believe lies about ourselves inside.
The key is, it is not about getting soiled, but rather that you ARE ALL clean. You are perfect in Him. He has perfected you, the real you, the spiritual you in union with Him - is complete. Only when we walk in the earthy, carnal, worldly do we get soiled. The cure? Washing off of that which does not truly stick, which can't change the truth about you...under the dust you are A MASTERPIECE.
Through years and centuries mankind has picked up grime that is lovingly, gently, perfectly and completely removed by a Master Restorer revealing once again the perfection below.
Was the soiled canvas any less a work of art or highly desired? No! It just required the Master to restore it.
We can't even cleanse ourselves. The painting can't fix itself and neither can we. We wait and trust our Master Restorer for He is faithful to do so.
Let HIM today wash your feet of the lies and behaviors causing shame and guilt.
Let Him close enough to cleanse each nook and cranny revealing to you, again, your PERFECTION and His great joy in you, His masterpiece.
As you let Him close, talk with Him. In intimacy and relationship with Him you CAN walk in the spirit and not satisfy the lust of the flesh. In the spirit your feet don't touch the ground.
Why 'should' we?
Not because it separates us from Him in 'sin' but it separates us from His truth and causes us to think we are something we are not - dirty and unacceptable.
The truest thing about you is what He says. He says, 'let ME wash your feet...let me prove to you that you are.....ALL holy, ALL perfect, ALL righteous'.

“Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.” Now He said this about the Spirit. Jn 7:38-39.

Initially, we receive from Him and hold on dearly for fear we won’t receive again, and we almost make what we received an idol in our life.

Little by little, we grow in holding His heart within ours and find a pressure increasing with a passion for its release even if we would find ourselves at a loss and we slowly begin to release what He has poured in.

Then we find and experience that in the release of what we have received we are always “full up”. The flow inward never stops as we choose to release what we have received to others.
Finally, the stream of Living Water flows as it will within us, cutting a channel that what we receive flows out naturally, unstoppably.

This (!) is our hearts desire; a river cut path of Living Water received within and flowing constantly, outwardly. 

Luke 23:41-42 has one of the criminals crucified with Jesus asking Jesus to ““remember” me when you come into your Kingdom.”

To remember (Greek middle voice) indicates a high level of personal (self) involvement and personal interest motivating the remembering. The man implores Jesus, bring me to mind (purposefully), recall me, mention me, be mindful of me. 

He knows his condition before the Lord. It does not deter his coming to Him for all that Jesus has for him even after death. How much more for us still living in this world?

Fear not. Don’t hide your junk/sin/regret, we all have it and He is full aware. Rather, as He encourages, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

He meets you right where you are near death, tormented or empty and alone. 
 

Ps 84:5-7 What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their mind as a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When they walk through the Valley of Baca it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings. They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem. 

Jerusalem may be a wonderful destination, but look at the beauty in the journey. We face  weeping and trouble (Baca=weeping, trouble) but are able to enter in and transform this valley simply by our walking through. We will not be there forever, we will pass through and onto Jerusalem. It is but for a season. 
 
Our presence, our journey through, transforms the difficulties in our lives. His life within us transforms the world around us. Our journey through, brings blessings in the rain and we grow stronger during the journey until the day we reach our destination – before Him through death in the New Jerusalem. This life is all journey, enjoy it, embrace it, transform it.

The beauty of the Christian life. We improve what is around us when what is within us is allowed to flourish along The Way. 

Are we/am I willing to choose this path with difficulty ahead and in my presence currently, or do I just trudge through what is in my way not seeing the opportunities or potential?

Do I struggle and hurry to pass through or do I pause and rest here, allowing my influence – in the Valley – to touch every single thing – every adversity – prickers and barrenness and drought – that life could arise, thrive and multiply?

Perhaps I remain where I am, sharing life, revealing Christ and quieting the flesh. Perhaps I even glorify and praise Him who placed me here and choose joy, knowing the blessing afforded by my presence there and that one day my journey will end with me in His presence.

Lord, may I be as Mary – Be it unto me… Selah.