“I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will greive, but your greif will suddenly turn to wonderful joy.” John 16:20 NLT
It all goes back to an event. A historically documented event that changed everything. An event than when presented in the power of the Spirit of God, continues to change everything.
Jesus was murdered by the very people he came to save.
It was in Jesus’ death that his love for you and me was most on display. He didn’t run from death and he had no fear. The pain he endured was excruciating, beyond our modern imagination. You know the story. Today is the day we celebrate it most corporately as the Church. You’ve heard that story right?
Then, as my Pastor preached today, Jesus rising from the dead was not the expectation of anyone but God. Dead people stay dead. That’s generally everyone’s expectation. Even Jesus’ closest followers didn’t take Jesus at his word before this event. They were in hiding, fearing that they were next in line as targets for Rome and the religious leaders of their day who were threatened by Jesus’ massive following. He was after all a great teacher, but the things he said… How polarizing! He preached about a new Kingdom, one in heaven, when the Roman Empire was at the height of its control. He preached that it wasn’t enough to be spiritual on the outside if on the inside their was a hypocrite (guilty!). And that if the inside of a person’s heart was clean the outside would become that way.
He claimed to do what only God could, He forgave people of their sin.
Yes, Emanuel, God was with us.
We crucified him by our sin. Jesus went to the cross with all the weight of sin for all the world. The sin of the past, of the time, of the future. That’s the weight of all the evil in the world. The weight of the Holocaust, of the Armenian genocide, of the turmoil and injustice of the slave trade and colonization in Africa, American slavery, all slavery, inequality, everything that is not just pure absolute and total love. And in so doing finally, Pure. Absolute. Total. Love. It had been shown.
With complete dissregad for his own safety, and comfort, Jesus died to save. But unlike any marter before or after Jesus, he took no part in any selfishness or any injustice. He was without sin! And Jesus didn’t stay dead.
The followers who witnessed this who met with Jesus after the tomb was rolled away, who didn’t think he could pull it off, became utterly fearless. The mark of the Christian was this type of love. This love pushed to ultimate extremes, because they could see their future.
Taking part in suffering, like the suffering Jesus endured was surely a part in their future as they set out preaching the Good News and ushering in God’s Kingdom. Hard times were not a reason for disbelief in a Savior. As my pastor Andy Stanley put it today, “they saw the worst thing happen to the very best person,” (prabably not an exact quote, but essentially) and that terrible thing, that suffering is evidence for those who know the rest of the story to what lay ahead. Life.
Full life is experienced when you know and believe that Jesus died to save you from yourself and from your sin. No one is without it. Many are still enslaved to their sin. We all stand guilty, but by the blood of Jesus, claiming the offering of God, we can opt into the eternal Kingdom. He came to set captives free. To bring the walking dead, to life. In fact, the free gift of God through our Lord Jesus Christ is eternal life.
Today, I’ve been reading a book lent to me by a dear friend and neighbor, my brother in Christ, Wayne Cooper. The book entitled 7 Men gives a breif synopsis of the greatness of 7 different men as chosen by the author Eric Metataxis. I’ve read about George Washington, William Wilberforce, and Eric Liddell, and today I read about the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Their lives were marked by one thing in particular. A willingness to go against the grain, when leaders they were first servants, when in the spotlight they did not reject or deny their God given talent or ablity, but they were humble. What it really came down to? In the end, they were selfless.
A life lived like Jesus in great-humble-selflessness is a life that goes beyond the end of life. And this is the practical application of the Gospel for our lives.
Celebrating the resurrection if done properly is to stare death and trial and all obstacles in the face and say “I will rise. Praise be to God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer said this, “How do we know that dying is so dreadful? Who knows whether in our human fear and anguish, we are only shivering and shuddering at the most glorious, heavenly blessed event in the world? Death is hell and night and cold, if it is not transformed by our faith.” (Sermon 1933, quote found in 7 Men)
He died after working as a theologian and pastor who put his faith to work in Nazi Germany. Working as a voice for the Jews smuggling them out of the country, and a double agent spy to overthrow the regiem. He was excecuted three weeks before the end of the war on a direct order by Adolf Hitler. He of course didn’t accomplish greatness and selflessness alone. Their were others working in the cause, and the Spirit of God goes with believers who are set with following God’s direction.
Nonetheless, what an example of God’s working in suffering. An example of redemption. An example like that of the cross where something meant for despicable evil, has been used by God to accomplish much good. I hope it encourages you as it did me today!
Following Jesus, we willfully ask God to break us of our fear, and to inspire us to be more than the shaping of our circumstance. And on the other side?
The loving embrace of our Father in Heaven. The all encoumpassing satisfaction of knowing God. So, we will no longer give way to the fleeting pleasures for temporary escape. Press on my brothers. Press on my sisters. Press on in the cause God has called you.
That’s how I must prepare. I must remember the event where I find my Savior’s love displayed for me. Events like it can help point me there. I can only get a glimpse here and now, but that’s enough as my mustard seed sized faith is enough to even move mountains. Mountains of sin and mountains of obstacles lay between me and where Jesus will lead me, but by Jesus they will move. By Jesus and Him alone I too will be great as I undergo trial and hardship. I will surrender.
This race is a step in God’s process for me. I don’t expect easy. I don’t expect that their won’t be trouble. But I do expect to see God work. To see love on display. To become love on display for others. I take heart. Because I know Jesus overcame, I do not fear.
By the love and provision of God, I will be fully funded because the people of God will give to further His cause.
By the working of the Spirit of Christ in the preaching and teaching of the Good News people will enter into the Kingdom, there and here both.
By the Church in action, our Squad, the hands and feet of Jesus working in the world, lives will change, healing will happen, and restoration will occur.
All this by Jesus, our risen Lord.
Fundraising update:
Still a few shirts left. 20$ a pop. And small people out there? Mostly small left a couple XL. <3
Paintings still for sale upon request, let me know which country on my route you’d like to pray for, and I’ll do a painting for you!
Looking for sponsors/partners/volunteers/donors of items for a silent auction. Let me know if you’d be interested in talking about a way you can contribute!
Planning another Spirit Night. Some were sad they missed the last one. The night itself raised about 162$! Whoop, whoop! Others have given who couldn’t come, andthat raised even more! Praise to God!
If you’d like to talk about ways you can help feel free to give me a call or message through text or Facebook. Donations especially recurring contributions are a huge help, but if their is another unique way you think you may be able to partner or leverage your talents and skills to the cause, I’m all for it! One photographer friend (he’s really good) offered to do photo shoots for people I refer his way, and the photo shoot cost will be donated to the mission!
Thank you everyone for the love and support! I thank Jesus for you.
-Daniel 770-296-8242
