This Easter Sunday has me thinking about the significance of the resurrection, an event central to the Christian experience. Paul wrote that without the resurrection, our preaching is in vain. Even today we still think of ourselves as Easter People, people for whom the resurrection represents promise and grace.
For me personally, the significance of the resurrection is its validation of a life lived. Jesus came into the world announcing the coming of God’s kingdom. He embodied the kingdom, being led by the Spirit to teach, heal, love, and sacrifice. He entered into relationships with those on the margins of society, and challenged the religious beliefs of the day. In fact, his humility and grace challenged the very powers and principalities that govern our world. He rejected the violence, greed, and segregation of the world and lived a different way, a way of humble obedience, peace, and love. His power was one hidden in what the world calls weakness. He was poor in spirit, meek, and pure of heart. He was a peacemaker, and joined in relationship with those who mourn. He was merciful, and thirsted for righteousness. He was the very kingdom of God incarnate, and taught others that they could live the same way, in fellowship with the Father. In short, he was the light that came into the darkness. And the darkness tried to snuff it out.
In seminary I had a professor who was fond of saying that the inevitable conclusion of a life lived in complete abandonment to God is a cross! The world doesn’t understand God’s economy. The world doesn’t understand the life of grace and peace. And so, the world does what it knows how to do- it crucifies.
If the story had ended at the crucifixion, we might say that Jesus was foolish. We might claim that the world was right- that meekness and grace and peace making are no more than a false hope, a utopian dream. But the story did not end in a tomb. Instead, the Father made a grand statement, forever putting his stamp of approval on the life lived by Jesus. Once and for all, in resurrection the Father said, “Yes, this is my Son! Follow his way and my kingdom will come.”
On this Easter day, let us remember the validation and the promise of the resurrection. And with Jesus let us pray, “Father, your kingdom come, to earth as it is in heaven!”
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6 comments:
"...the inevitable conclusion of a life lived in complete abandonment to God is a cross!"
I can tell this thought-statement is going to stick in my mind and heart like those "hitch hikers" you get on your clothes walking in the woods here in the summer south. It reminded me of one of my favorite parts in the AA Big book:
"Abandon yourself to God as you understand God. Admit your faults to Him and to your fellows. Clear away the wreckage of your past. Give freely of what you find and join us. We shall be with you in the Fellowship of the Spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you trudge the Road of Happy Destiny."
A Road of Happy Destiny vs. a cross. I am not sure which I like better.
Scratch that.
I know which I like better.
I know the "right" answer which is not my honest answer. Honestly, living a life abandoned to God leading to a cross scares me.
I know it shouldn't. But it does.
Faith, man, faith. Where is it when you really need it?
I'm with you. All this tuff Jesus taught really doesn't make much sense.
"Deny Yourself"
"The one who loses his life saves it"
"Pick up your cross"
"Blessed are the poor in spirit"
"Blessed are those who mourn"
"Go sell all your possessions and give everything to the poor"
"a camel through the eye of a needle"
"the first will be last"
"If you want to be great, be a servant/ slave"
Jesus' words go on and on, and most of them say the same sorts of things. Yet, we do cognitive gymnastics in our interpretations to prove that, while these words may have come out of Jesus' mouth, he did not really mean them.
Maybe though, in some strange sense, the experience (call it joy maybe) of living in the will of God transforms the cross into the Road of Happy Destiny. Maybe the 'trudge' part of the journey includes cross- bearing. Maybe that is what Paul meant when he talked about joy in suffering...
Sure seems like a leap of faith though.
By the way, I had forgotten about the 'hitch hikers.' I need to get out into the woods more.
"Maybe though, in some strange sense, the experience (call it joy maybe) of living in the will of God transforms the cross into the Road of Happy Destiny. Maybe the 'trudge' part of the journey includes cross- bearing. Maybe that is what Paul meant when he talked about joy in suffering..."
I think you are really on to something here but I don't know enough to say what.
I understand trudge to mean proceeding with purpose. Purpose = walking in God's will for us? When we are doing that, is He then carrying His cross for us?
Maybe this?? (Matthew 11:28-30):
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
I can dig that. Kinda has a Road to Happy Destiny sound to it.
That is good stuff! I am not totally clear on the connections between 'cross- bearing' and having Christ/ God carry our cross for us. I know Jesus said that the 'yoke' is light.
I think (and that may be dangerous) that all of this is connected with being transformed into new beings. What if, when we begin to be truly reconciled with God, we are actually 'reborn' in a sense, and become new creations? And what if these 'new creations' are 'designed' to live a certain sort of way? What if the new creations are designed to live in loving community with one another? Would it not make sense then that anything that divides us, even if that is possessions, would then make us unhappy, whereas anything that unites us, say sharing things in common, living in peace, giving up our individual desires for others, would then make us blissful.
If this were actually the case, then 'giving up our life,' and sharing ourselves completely with others, whatever that means, would in fact be the most natural thing to do (recognize Rob bell there :-)).
While giving up our life looks like bearing a cross to the world, it is actually simply the living out of who we now are, which would be the road of Happy Destiny.
Peace,
Yeah... (thinking).
What's hard for me about the transformation rebirth stuff is that I'll rock along doing pretty well (following God's will as best I can) and then wham: and I'm right back wallowing in self wondering if rebirth happened or was it a figment of my imagination. I can then really relate to Paul here:
***
(Rom 7:18-25):
I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway.
My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.
It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up.
I truly delight in God's commands,
but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question?
The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different."
****
Man, I can so relate to Paul here. I can have these bizarre thoughts come from nowhere and at really weird moments - like meditative times with God.
Progress not perfection?? maybe???
That struggle we were talking about.
But, even in going through all that, there is an underlying peace like there's never been before. A peace from knowing Father loves me no matter what. For that I am very grateful.
goodnight.
"But, even in going through all that, there is an underlying peace like there's never been before. A peace from knowing Father loves me no matter what. For that I am very grateful."
- Amen
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