​Lent Narrative – “Cross as Demonstration”
March 20th, 2019
 
We began our Lenten journey a few weeks ago.  Our journey focuses in on Christ’s sacrifice for us and our sinfulness that required this sacrifice.  For the past two weeks we have highlighted the objective view of the atonement; like who God is and what He did objectively for us. In other words, we have focused in on the theological truth of the atonement.
 
Today we begin to highlight the subjectiveside of the cross. We look at the impact that Jesus’ death had on and in us.  Romans 5:6-8 is a great introduction to this, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Vary rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  As a result of the cross, two things emerge.  First, we have insight into our own sinful nature.  Second, we see the depth of our own sin and rebellion.  
 
Prayer: “Loving Father, you are not a distant God, but a God who reveals himself to us in many ways. We thank you for sending your Son Jesus Christ to prove your love for us, and for allowing us to witness the love you have for us.  Draw us closer to you by holding before our eyes the promise of his cross, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.”
 
As we did last week, we look to the life of the Israelites as a model for our own journey.  The Israelites were, for the most part, in a constant state of rebellion against God.  Like Adam and Eve in the garden, the Israelites didn’t want to be dependent on God.  They wanted to exercise their own self-direction.  Just as God’s wrath came upon Adam and Eve, so it came upon the Israelite people.  In Numbers 21:4-9 God sent snakes as a punishment to the Israelites for their complaining and lack of faith.  Anyone who was bitten by the snakes would die.  This was the punishment for the lack of faith.  The Israelites come face to face with their sin and their need for a gracious and forgiving God.  They are not blissfully ignorant any more.  Therefore, neither are we . . . 
 
In the same way that the snakes made God’s people aware of their sin, the work of Christ holds up a mirror to our own sin.  Despite the desire to hide it or ignore it (perhaps as a function of shame), we cannot: Christ is constantly standing in front of us.  Christ’s presence also demands that we acknowledge our need salvation, our need for Him.  
 
The second half of the story of the snakes is just as important as the first.  God provides a bronze snake.  Anyone who had been bitten and looked at the snake would live.  God showed His love for His people through providing them salvation from death.  Just as God did for them, He does for us in Jesus Christ.  Romans 5:8 is true – while we were still sinner, Christ died for us and provided salvation for us.  Despite the fact that we are undeserving, God loves us.
 
To make us right with Himself, God turns us into people who trust Him.  He creates the faith that we have given up and restores the relationship we had broken.  It is only by His choice and initiative that we are called His friends.
 

Lent Narrative – “Cross as Redemption”
March 13th, 2019
 
Last week on Ash Wednesday we looked at the cross as atonement.  The cross is evidence of our sinfulness.  We are responsible for the death of Christ.   It is also evidence of how far God will go to bring us back to Him.  God provides a way back to Him through the sacrifice of His son Jesus Christ.  
 
This sacrifice of Christ is an atonement for our sins.  Just like the priests in the Old Testament, Christ is a sacrifice for our sins.  We are forgiven because of God’s sacrifice of Christ.  We are justified through sacrifice of Christ.  God sees us not as sinners, but as saint as He sees us through the sacrifice of Christ.
 
That bring us to this second week of Lent.  This week we continue the theme of examining the cross. We will shift the focus from atonement to redemption.  When you focus on atonement you address the question of whatis paid; when you focus on redemption you address the question of whodoes the act of redemption.  Job addresses the question in his suffering, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth.  And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God – Job 19:25-26. The focus becomes God and his nature.
 
Prayer of preparation: “Great Redeemer, we know that we are indebted to you for all we have.  We thank you for not handing us over to the power of death, but for buying us back in love, through the blood of your Son Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  Amen.”
 
Leviticus 25:14-25 reveals some of the nature of God.  This passage focuses in on finances and using this prism to present who God is.  Two things become clear.  First, that our finances are under the reign of God.  The way we treat one another re: our finances reveals our faith in God.  Look at Matthew 25:40,” Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these brothers, you did it to me.”  Second, finances reveal who is really the “god” in your life.  Are you ruled by idolatry or by God?
 
There is a concept in Jewish life that reflects and represent this paying of a debt by God: the Kinsman Redeemer (seen in the best way in the book of Ruth).  The Kinsman Redeemer’s job is to redeem a relative through the paying of their debt.  God does what Kinsman Redeemer does: pays a debt that is fundamentally not His.  This debt is paid with the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
 
This sacrifice of God is not limited to Christ.  There is a history of God’s sacrifice for us.  This is seen most poignantly in the story of Abraham.  Abraham is told by God that he is to sacrifice is one and only son, Isaac.  In faith, Abraham goes to do exactly this.  You can imagine the nervousness and pain that went into the death of Isaac, the fulfilled of God’s promise to Abraham.  We know the story.  God, because of Abraham’s faith, redeemed Isaac though providing a ram for sacrifice.  
 
As we wrap up this reflection we are reminded of 1 Corinthians 6:20, “. . . you were bought with a price.”  In spite of our circumstance we know that our Kinsman Redeemer redeems us and this redeeming act continues on a day to day basis as we daily die to our life and allow Christ to live through us (as we live out our baptism).  We confess the words of Job, “I know that my redeemer lives.”
 

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Bible often speaks about God’s faithfulness as we see here in Deuteronomy 7:9.  The writers of Scripture want us to know that that God is trustworthy because He has PROVEN He is trustworthy.  For the Israelites  God proved His faithfulness in many way.  You know the stories:  Abraham and Sarah conceiving at an old age, the freeing of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, the parting of the Red Sea, the entrance into the promised land, etc - the stories go on and on.  God over and over proves His faithfulness through his “keeping the covenant of love” for the Israelites.

What does this mean for us now; how should this impact us today on March 11th, 2019.  Well, notice what is says here “ . . . keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations.”  Who is included these “thousand generations?”  Well of course, we are!  Just like with the Israelites, we can count on God’s faithfulness in our own lives.  He keeps the covenant of love with us.  When we are in tough times, when it seems like something won’t work out, when we are in desperation (like Abraham and Sarah, for example) we can count on God to be faithful to His covenant of love directed at us!

Let’s live in that truth today; the truth that God is faithful in His love for us and that He will always keep up His covenant of love with us.

​

​Ash Wednesday – “Cross as Atonement
March 6, 2019
 
            We start with a fundamental question: Why did Jesus have to die?  The simple Biblical answer to this: He died for us.  John 1:29 communicates this, “Behold, the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world!” Jesus has only one purpose, that is to die in our place so that we will be justified in front of God.  
 
            When we talk about Jesus’ death and eventual resurrection we cannot avoid talking about the law.  For it is in the transgression of the law that we are condemned and where Christ becomes of utmost important.  The law originally was set up so that the Israelite people would be able to have a right relationship with a holy God.  God provided the law as good news, not as bad news.  The problem is that the law became bad news as it was impossible to follow and fulfill for the everyday first century Jewish person. When the law was transgressed there needed to be an atonement for the sin.  This is where the priesthood entered.  The priesthood offered sacrifice to God for the transgression of the law (this is seen clearly in Leviticus 4:27-31).  As a result of this, people were forgiven. We, like the Israelites, have broken the law. We owe a debt to God; we need forgiveness. 
 
            What we need to comprehend is that we are unable to pay this debt.  Psalm 49:7-9 lays this out for us: “No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them - the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough – so that they should live on forever and not see decay.”  We need a priest, like the Israelites to bring atonement for our sins.  The good news is that Jesus pays our debt and our righteousness come only from Christ. This is spelled out in Romans 3:18-24. Jesus operates as a priest as well as a sacrifice for us.  As He died on the cross He was sacrificed for us.  Jesus pays the debt.  And this payment is once and for all as articulated in Hebrews 9:11-28.
 
            The summary of the situation is this: We are the reason for Christ’s death.  Isaiah 53:4-5 makes this clear: “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering . . . “ As we work our way through this Lenten season let us reflect on this truth.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”— Joshua 1:9 NIV
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Joshua was really up against it. He was called to do a tough thing - enter into the promised land and destroy all those who would oppose him and God’s people.  The Israelites were sort of a rag-tag group.  They certainly didn’t seen like a group that would be able to take the last in the way that God had promised.  Despite their lack of power, God kept His promise and led them int other promised land.  Because He commanded, there would be success.

This is a good lesson for us today.  God has called each of us to a general call, common to all of us, and a specific call, that is specifically for us.  The general for all of us is trust in Him and living out that trust in our daily activities.  The specific call of each of us could be anything: witnessing to our neighbors, healing broken relationships in our family.  We are each called to apply the Gospel in our circle of influence.  

In both of these calls we hear the voice of God - “Have I not commanded you.  Be strong and courageous and don’t be afraid.”  Because God has called us He will also go with us and prepare the way.  Today I encourage you to trust in God and know that He will go with you wherever you go!