Palm Sunday 13 April
Passion Tuesday Service 7:00 pm
Passover Like Celebration 6:00 pm
Maundy Thursday 7:00 pm
Good Friday 7:00 pm
Resurrection Day (6:15 am) April 20
Jesus' Death and Rest
And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” (Luke 9:32 ESV)
Jesus’ Death and Rest
I used to hate taking naps. I felt like I was missing out on something. More recently, I look forward to naps. I feel like I am missing out on something if I don’t occasionally doze.
Just before he raised a girl from death, Jesus said that her apparent death was merely sleep.
Her death was like sleep because it was temporary, despite what it looked like.
In a time-switch, Jesus was foreshadowing HIS death. Which might have seemed like an absolute end for His body… but was actually temporary. Like rest.
Our death is like that, too.
To observers, our bodies will be dead. But we, like Jesus, will not be dead. We will open our eyes in heaven, with Him, with His Father, with Our Father.
Very much awake and alive.
We have a lot of work. But that work has an end. We will have rest. And that rest will be better than naps. Better than REM-sleep. Better than any dreaming.
We, because of Jesus, and only through Jesus, will have REAL rest. Forever rest. Perfect rest.
Jesus' Life and Rest
And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27,28 ESV)
Jesus’ Life and Rest
When I was a teenager, I often lawyered my parents about what they should allow me to DO on the Lord’s Day. Big surprise, eh?
It seemed to me back then, that our church’s and family’s Sunday rules were meant to STOP me from doing things I wanted to do. I chafed against them.
But eventually, I understood such things more closely to what Jesus actually taught.
The Lord’s Day was commanded because our bodies need rest. The Lord’s Day was created because it is GOOD to rest. The Lord’s Day continues because it is a part of His Lordship.
Throughout His life, Jesus worshipped on the Lord’s Day, even though He Himself was God. Throughout His life, Jesus enjoyed the Lord’s Day, because it is enjoyable. Throughout His life, Jesus kept the Lord’s Day because He loved to obey.
For us, too, copying Jesus’ life, we get to regularly rest. Not just out of obligation. Not just out of habit. Not just out of calendar-following.
But because HE did it, we get to. Because HE loved it, we can try to. Because HE obeyed, we learn to.
He worked all the way through His life, right up to His death on the cross. He rested along the way, too. Especially through the resurrection!
Work and rest. Strive and rest. Labor and rest. Try and rest. Just like Jesus did.
Jesus' Life (Again) and Hope
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, (I Peter 1:3,4 ESV)
Jesus’ Life (Again) and Hope
Recently a friend fixed my limping computer. It has had a recurring trouble with over-heating almost since I bought it. I have tried various methods, and while some solutions did the trick for a day or two… no solution worked for long.
But THIS friend is an expert. Experienced. Crafty. And he fixed my computer.
But as happy as I am this morning… I know that this fix will not last forever. Even if it lasts for weeks, or months, or years, my computer WILL fail again. Even if in a different way.
Because my computer is not very much like Jesus.
Unlike the hope I have in technology, the hope I have in Jesus is permanent.
Unlike the hope I have in mechanical success, the hope I have in Jesus is transformational.
Unlike the hope I have in knowledge, the hope I have in Jesus is complete.
Jesus’ hope is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.
Christians are not merely born again. We are born again to a living hope!
Jesus' Death and Hope
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. (Revelation 21:4 ESV)
Jesus’ Death and Hope
I had a particularly hard day recently. I shed tears. I encountered death. I mourned. I cried. And I hurt.
I am certain that you have such days, too.
The suffering, pain, and death of Jesus ensures that we have hope. Not a vague hope, like watching the stock market or seeing the end of a long trip. But the sure absolute hope that BAD DAYS WILL END.
Jesus died to end all bad days.
Not merely by destroying their source and power. But by giving new life. But by paving the road into God’s glorious, perfect, joyful, GOOD presence, that we call heaven.
Jesus’ death empowers that hope.
Jesus' Life and Hope
If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. (I Corinthians 15:19 ESV)
Jesus’ Life and Hope
Hidden in this conditional statement is a profound fact. Yes, Paul is writing to give us hope for life after our body’s death. But before he logically gets there, he declares that we have hope NOW.
We have hope in THIS life.
And the foundation of that hope is nothing less than the life of Jesus.
We see how Jesus was loved by the Father, and have hope that the Father loves us, too.
We see how Jesus endured temptation, and have hope that we can endure, too.
We see how Jesus’ entire life gave glory to His Father, and have hope that we can shine some glory to the Father, too.
Because Jesus’ lived… we have hope!
Jesus' Life (Again) and Grace
And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. (Acts 4:33 ESV)
Jesus’ Life (Again) and Grace
This is an interesting look under the hood at the workings of God’s salvific engine. When the apostles were teaching, they undoubtedly covered Adam’s Sin. They probably covered the Trinity. They would have discussed, in concept at least, the dual natures of the Christ. Maybe lessons or sermons would have included the power of Scripture, the nature of repentance, and the preferred color of carpeting for Christians. (Ok, probably not the last one…)
But look what happened when the Resurrection was taught: GREAT GRACE WAS UPON THEM.
Of course all those other topics are necessary and important.
But it seems, somehow, that Grace arrives with the Resurrection!
Jesus' Death and Grace
For if many died through one Man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one Man Jesus Christ abounded for many. (Romans 5:15 ESV)
Jesus’ Death and Grace
The Grace of God is offered to Christians because of, and ONLY because of Christ’s death.
Two paths exist to restored relationship with the perfect Creator. We can enter that relationship either through our own perfect obedience, from birth to death… OR through God’s grace.
How’s that first option working out for you?
The second option, God’s grace, is made possible through Jesus’ death.
Christ’s death cleans our dirty hands through Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross. Jesus’ death cleans us up, in God’s eyes.
Jesus’ death is the foundation of Grace.
Jesus' Life and Grace
For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (II Corinthians 5:21 ESV)
Jesus’ Life and Grace
Despite our common phraseology, the gospel is not free. God’s forgiveness is not free. God’s grace is not free.
The gospel, forgiveness, and grace do NOT cost His people anything.
But they were paid for.
God is gracious to us, because His Son, Jesus Christ, earned God’s favor through HIS OWN perfect obedience.
We do not deserve grace, could never earn grace, and could not possibly find God’s grace. But Christ Jesus was absolutely holy. And God grants US the grace Jesus deserves… the grace Jesus deserves… and God’s favor.
Jesus’ life pays for the Grace God gives us.
Jesus' Life (Again) and Spring
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 ESV)
Jesus’ Life (Again) and Spring
Some days are easier to rejoice in than others. But the symptoms of spring are USUALLY things in which we rejoice. More than winter, more than summer, more than autumn, spring makes our hearts spring!
Rejoicing in spring might be easier than other seasons.
And rejoicing in Jesus’ resurrection is similarly easier to rejoice about than His suffering life, and His death.
His life and His death were necessary… and His resurrection is ALSO a thing of pure joy.
His life and His death were endured… and His resurrection is ALSO a celebration.
His life and His death were dark… and His resurrection is LIGHT.
Jesus' Death and Spring
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4 ESV)
Jesus’ Death and Spring
My grandfather, a master gardener, tried to teach my skeptical young mind that, “for new life, you have to have death.” He told me that as we pushed old lifeless seeds into the cold dead ground.
And then, green life would sprout.
Jesus’ death, on our behalf, because we were dead already in our sins, paved the way for new life in Him.
His death was not simply a tragedy. His death brought new life! Both the new life we have in Him, now; AND the new life we will have with Him in eternity.
And death today is similar. Of course it is a source of grief. But death, because of Jesus’ death, is now also the gateway to true, perfect, joyful, eternal, bright, holy, tear-less, life.
Jesus' Life and Spring
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (II Corinthians 5:17 ESV)
Jesus’ Life and Spring
The change of seasons this year, at least in Kansas, has been unusual. We have gone from bitter winter, to sudden spring, to snowy snow, to pleasant spring, to cold, to warm, to chilly, to hot, to green buds.
It has made me think a lot about spring.
Spring is new hope, a fresh start, life from sleep, and each year, something like a new creation.
But the new creation on this third planet is not only pleasant each spring, but it points Christians’ attention to the One who really brings new life: and that life, eternal!
Jesus lived on earth through summer, autumn, winter and spring so that He could live the full experience that His creation does… and so that His presence could add to the FIXING of Adam’s breakage.
He SHOWS US spring … He BRINGS spring… … He IS spring
Jesus' Life (Again) and Fear
Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32 ESV)
Jesus’ Life (Again) and Fear
Our Father, since we are Jesus’ adopted siblings, promises us a kingdom. And that kingdom is better than any earthly kingdom. It is better than any fairy tale kingdom. It is better than any imaginary kingdom.
It is perfect.
And Christians are on a path, a road, a Way, that leads there.
Sometimes, late at night, I end up walking through some dark places in my house. And that could be scary. Who KNOWS what is in the dark?
But the light that I am usually headed for gives me courage, hope, and peace.
I know where I will end up! And the fear of Lego blocks, mice, cat tails, rug edges, and discarded books that seem so dangerous, unsure, and frightening disappears.
The more I recall the end of the journey, the less scary the dark is.
As in my house, so in all of life.
Know the future, heaven, God’s full kingdom, and fear slips away.
Not because of our skills, coordination, or knowledge.
But because of the One… the Three… that we will know completely at the end!
=-=--=
Jesus' Death and Fear
But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine. (Isaiah 43:1 ESV)
Jesus’ Death and Fear
Jesus’ death redeems us. His death returns us into the family of our creator. Jesus’ death restores us to the embrace of the heavenly Father. His death restores us to the way God created humans to live.
And so, Christ Jesus’ death fixes everything.
And since that is true, His death has overcome every single thing we might fear.
The victory might not be obvious, but it is real.
The victory might not be immediate, but it is set in stone.
The victory might not be observable, but it is in God’s mind, and thus more real than anything else.
And therefore, because of Jesus’ death, there is nothing to fear!
The next time (and yes, it happens still, often) we think we have something to fear… remember the cross! And fear no more.
Jesus' Life and Fear
And going a little farther He fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” … for the second time, He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, Your will be done.” … So, leaving them again, He went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. (Matthew 26:39, 42, 44 ESV)
Jesus’ Life and Fear
Jesus was afraid. Probably not the insecure terror that WE experience as fear, but an apprehension, an awareness of upcoming pain, and a desire to avoid the immediate events in His life.
In that way, He was afraid.
And in that way, He dealt with His fear in THE way that we can model Him when we are afraid.
He prayed. Repeatedly.
We learn from Jesus’ example about fear. But more importantly, we learn from Jesus’ example what to DO about fear.
Jesus' Live (Again) and Obedience
If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:11 ESV)
Jesus’ Life (Again) and Obedience
“Believing in Jesus” means believing in ALL of Jesus… particularly, here, in His Resurrection. That belief, according to this verse, enables our mortal physical selves to be empowered to obey!
Jesus’ resurrection… perhaps because it overcame the EFFECT of sin, death… cuts out the power of sin in His people. We now are able to obey.
Not to gain salvation… we have that through Grace, by faith…
But BECAUSE of the power of the Resurrection over death, really knowing God’s law, loving God’s law, and keeping God’s law is now within our power! Or really, of course, still within Christ’s power, manifesting itself in us.
We cannot obey to gain salvation… but we have the ability to obey BECAUSE of salvation.
Jesus' Death and Obedience
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:8 ESV)
Jesus’ Death and Obedience
I like movies with twists. Those stories where things seem to be going completely wrong. But suddenly we see that all of the troubles, apparent mistakes, and bumblings were ACTUALLY exactly what was supposed to happen all along!
Jesus’ death was no accident. It did not happen with God wringing His hands in heaven with despair. Jesus did not die against His will.
Jesus’ death was an act of obedience to God.
Jesus’ death was the completion of Biblical Promises from Genesis through Malachi.
Jesus’ death was exactly what needed to happen to fix OUR disobedience.
Jesus’ death was the only way for His people to avoid God’s wrath. In His death, He took our well-deserved punishment on Himself. Jesus obeyed God by punishing every Sin of every one of His people… He just punished Himself instead of us.
His death saves His people.
Jesus' Life and Obedience
For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:19 ESV)
Jesus’ Life and Obedience
I once did a homework assignment for a friend. He had been sick, had been overwhelmed by situations at home, and had humbly cried out for help.
I should not have done it, of course.
But I did. And my friend got credit for my work.
One good thing (maybe the only good thing) that came from that event, is that it gave me a little bit of understanding of how Christ’s obedience is credited to me.
Jesus obeyed God… perfectly, in every tiny and gigantic way. But because of God’s amazing Covenant, God gives ME credit for it. God chooses to see what JESUS did as my thoughts, words, and deeds.
Just as my friend was unable to complete his assignment, I am unable to complete God’s holy requirements. But Jesus did my work for me.
It is the only way that I could enter God’s perfect heaven.
His life on earth, from birth to crucifixion, provided Him with every opportunity to be perfect and sinless in every human situation… so that His perfect holiness could be credited to His people.
It is the only way Christians (or anyone) can be holy in God’s sight.
His life saves His people.
Jesus' Life (Again) and Christianity
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. (I Corinthians 15:17-19 ESV)
Jesus’ Life (Again) and Christianity
The most important part of breakfast might be bacon. The most important part of Star Trek might be Mr. Spock. The most important part of a long drive might be the radio. The most important part of lawnmowing might be my MP3 player.
But without doubt the most important part of Christianity is the Resurrection, eternal life, and heaven.
It is not true that the here and now is meaningless… but eternity is more.
And if Christianity is ONLY about our dirty feet, our gardens, our drinks-of-water, our conversation, our time… then Christianity is no different than any other worldview.
But Christianity is about forever, is about fixing everything, is about true rest, is about real hope.
Jesus was resurrected first, and Christians will follow Him.
Christianity is yesterday and today. But most of all, it is tomorrow.
Christ's Death and Christianity
Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. (Romans 5:9 ESV)
Jesus’ Death and Christianity
If it were not for the death of Christ, Christianity would not mean anything. Uniquely, Christianity is not founded on the morals, deeds, or choices of it’s people. Rather, Christianity is founded on Christ’s death on behalf of Christians.
His death makes us right in God’s eyes. His death saves us from God’s wrath. His death is what separates us from other unrighteous people. (ALL sin, but Christians receive forgiveness.)
We Christians do not merely follow a wise leader, we are followers because that leader died for us. We Christians do not merely study and believe effective philosophy, we study and believe because our teacher died for us. We Christians are not merely members of a group, we belong together because all of us are so broken that we needed someone… Someone… to die in our place.
The Chinese of the 19th century, when learning about Christianity, called us, “The People of the Dead God.” While there is ANOTHER part to understand… they were not wrong!
Christ’s death makes us Christians.