It did not look graceful. It did not look like how they thought the Kingdom of God would start invading earth. They questioned their decisions and his. The disciples were filled with disbelief and anguish. But it was exactly how Jesus was destined to die. The events of Good Friday, as well as Palm Sunday, played out exactly like the prophecies had said they would. Prophecies given centuries before.
Jesus was hung on a broken piece of wood that had once been alive, rooted in life giving nourishing soil. The wood of the cross in fact resembles many Christians today. Like the tree he was hung on, once alive and rooted in the life source but then cut off from it. Then cut to pieces, broken and scarred.
Life happens. People hurt us. Our hopes and dreams lead us to disappointment. Things don’t turn out the way we think they should and we become angry and sometimes turn our back on God. Regardless of whether we remain planted in the life source (in God and the church), we will get knocked around by life, becoming broken and scarred at times. But if we stay rooted in the life source we will be restored. If we chose to break away from the life source (it is always a choice to break away) we will seek to find earthly means to restore ourselves; such as drugs or alcohol or unhealthy relationships. This is not what God wants for you. This is not what Jesus died for.
I believe the tree Jesus hung on was deathly cold. Some believers have become cold towards the church, cut off from the life source. They speak words of destruction instead of hope and God’s promises. But what is worse is someone who was once hot for God then has become lukewarm. Revelations 3:16 talks of those being lukewarm being worse than those who are cold and that they will be spat out. Lukewarm Christians can disguise themselves among believes in and outside of church. A lukewarm Christian might look like someone who has decided to do church at home on their own because it is easier that way or they just have not found the perfect church. Or it might look like a Christian who has decided that compromise is better than waiting on God to provide. They dilute the commandments of God down to a point that allows them to live guilt free with their decisions of sin. Jesus did not bring the Kingdom of God to earth so we could live lukewarm Christian lives that have no impact in the spiritual realm and does not attract the attention of the enemy and does not witness to those who do not know God.
Jesus hung on a broken scarred cold piece of wood. He restored and redeemed that wood and brought it back to life, turning it into a beautiful symbol of freedom. A symbol that has stood the test of time and brings hope to millions today. When I look at the cross I see God’s power, transforming what was intended for destruction into something beautiful. I also see the hand of God, that he is in control always no matter what the situation might look like through our human eyes.
Like the tree that Jesus died on, God can restore us to incredible beauty despite the scars we may carry. He redeemed that broken scarred tree and turned it into something of immeasurable beautiful. If he can do that for a tree He can certainly do the same for you.
This Easter, will you be attending church as you do out of religious habit or because of revelation through relationship with God of the enormity of His sacrifice? Will you ask God to give you a fresh revelation about the story of Easter or will you be happy with what you think you know about the story?
Jesus was hung on a broken piece of wood that had once been alive, rooted in life giving nourishing soil. The wood of the cross in fact resembles many Christians today. Like the tree he was hung on, once alive and rooted in the life source but then cut off from it. Then cut to pieces, broken and scarred.
Life happens. People hurt us. Our hopes and dreams lead us to disappointment. Things don’t turn out the way we think they should and we become angry and sometimes turn our back on God. Regardless of whether we remain planted in the life source (in God and the church), we will get knocked around by life, becoming broken and scarred at times. But if we stay rooted in the life source we will be restored. If we chose to break away from the life source (it is always a choice to break away) we will seek to find earthly means to restore ourselves; such as drugs or alcohol or unhealthy relationships. This is not what God wants for you. This is not what Jesus died for.
I believe the tree Jesus hung on was deathly cold. Some believers have become cold towards the church, cut off from the life source. They speak words of destruction instead of hope and God’s promises. But what is worse is someone who was once hot for God then has become lukewarm. Revelations 3:16 talks of those being lukewarm being worse than those who are cold and that they will be spat out. Lukewarm Christians can disguise themselves among believes in and outside of church. A lukewarm Christian might look like someone who has decided to do church at home on their own because it is easier that way or they just have not found the perfect church. Or it might look like a Christian who has decided that compromise is better than waiting on God to provide. They dilute the commandments of God down to a point that allows them to live guilt free with their decisions of sin. Jesus did not bring the Kingdom of God to earth so we could live lukewarm Christian lives that have no impact in the spiritual realm and does not attract the attention of the enemy and does not witness to those who do not know God.
Jesus hung on a broken scarred cold piece of wood. He restored and redeemed that wood and brought it back to life, turning it into a beautiful symbol of freedom. A symbol that has stood the test of time and brings hope to millions today. When I look at the cross I see God’s power, transforming what was intended for destruction into something beautiful. I also see the hand of God, that he is in control always no matter what the situation might look like through our human eyes.
Like the tree that Jesus died on, God can restore us to incredible beauty despite the scars we may carry. He redeemed that broken scarred tree and turned it into something of immeasurable beautiful. If he can do that for a tree He can certainly do the same for you.
This Easter, will you be attending church as you do out of religious habit or because of revelation through relationship with God of the enormity of His sacrifice? Will you ask God to give you a fresh revelation about the story of Easter or will you be happy with what you think you know about the story?