A One Word Gospel

If you had to summarize the entirety of the Bible – God’s love, Jesus’ sacrifice and redemption of all, the hope of eternity – the whole bit, could you do it in one sentence? 

Perhaps John 3:16 is a great one-sentence summary: 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

How about in only three words? We might come up with words like Grace, Love, and Mercy. Or Hope, Forgiveness, and Heaven. Or Sin, the Cross, and Salvation.

But what if you had to summarize the entire gospel message of God’s love, Jesus’ sacrifice and the hope of heaven in ONE WORD? What would your one word be?

This is where I was floored. The speaker I was listening to offered up one word I did not expect.

With.

That’s right, with. Let me walk you through it. You will see how awesome this is!

Let’s start in the beginning, which is NOT in Genesis but in John chapter 1: verses 1- 3 tell us:

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was WITH God, and the Word was God. He was WITH God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made…

Who or what do you think the Word is that was WITH God before the creation of the Earth? Biblical commentaries and even the study notes in our Bibles confirm that in these verses we see JESUS as fully God – the eternal God who has always existed, the Creator and Sustainer of all things and the Source of eternal life.

In Genesis when God created the heavens and the earth, we need to remember that Jesus was there WITH God "in the beginning", although not yet in his human form. We see this alluded to again when God created Adam on the 6th day,, saying “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness” [Genesis 1:26, my emphasis].

So, bearing that in mind, let’s trace WITH from the beginning of scripture to see if this one word is fitting. We are only hitting highlights…

In the Garden of Eden, God was WITH Adam and Eve, walking and talking among them.

God was WITH Noah after He promised to protect Noah and his family during the terrible flood that washed away every living thing outside of the ark.

God was WITH Abraham when he made the everlasting promise to give him descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and a land where they could settle.

God told Moses, “I will be WITH you” when he was to lead the enslaved Israelites out of Egypt.

God was WITH the Israelites in the dessert as He provided manna, quail and water from the rock to sustain them.

The Lord was WITH Joshua and the Israelites as they overtook the land promised to them: 

The Lord himself goes before you and will be WITH you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. [Deuteronomy 31:8]

When Samuel anointed the shepherd boy David King of Israel, the Spirit of the Lord fell on him. From then on, the Lord was WITH David, “a man after God’s own heart”.

Years later the shepherd king pens the words in which we still find comfort today: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are WITH me.” Psalm 23:4

Daniel and his friends experienced the manifest presence of the Lord WITH them as three of them were thrown into a fiery furnace and Daniel into a lion’s den. They each emerged without a single scratch, completely protected by their God.

And in the fullness of time, God took WITH to a whole new level:

After an immaculate conception, the Virgin Mary gave birth to a son named Jesus, also called Immanuel – God WITH us. John 1:14 confirms this: 

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

For 33 years – Jesus was Immanuel, God WITH us, as he walked among his people on earth. But before he left, he made a promise: “I am WITH you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

After the crucifixion and Jesus’ ascension into heaven 40 days later – The Holy Spirit was sent on Pentecost and entered the very souls of those who believed. Now the very Spirit of Jesus and God the Father is WITH anyone who believes in Jesus!

And in the last days, God will send Jesus back to earth, this time to claim his eternal throne. This time to defeat death, sin and Satan a final time. And – he’s coming for us who believe in him.

Soak up the promises of Revelation 21:3-4 and Rev 22:3-4

Now the dwelling of God is WITH men and he will live WITH them. They will be his people and God himself will be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. // No longer will there be any curse…They will see His face and His name will be on their foreheads.

So – do you see WITH throughout the story of the gospel?

Here is an acrostic to help us remember the core message of WITH:

Where 

I am, 

There 

He is

What is WITH supposed to mean to us, anyways? I think it represents intimacy. Relationship. WITH illustrates God’s desire for intimacy and connection with us. And, hopefully, our desire to be WITH God, too.

Togetherness naturally breeds intimacy.

This is Holy week – remember on Friday, "Good Friday", what was really happening when Christ humbled himself by becoming obedient to death on a cross.

Christ had chosen to fully confine his deity to flesh and blood, taking the blows for our sin – yesterday, today and tomorrow. When he died, it was OUR spiritual death he endured.

He underwent the separation from the Heavenly Father that our sin should bring US. We see it when he cried out from the cross in those last moments, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”. Because God is Holy, sin cannot exist in his presence.

And so Jesus was separated from the Father the first time in FOREVER. For US.

Ok, a quick side trip into the Temple in Jerusalem before we tie all of this together…

In the Temple in Jerusalem, there was a massive outer courtyard where all the people could congregate (one area for men and one for women), present their offerings and sacrifices, hear the lessons from the priests and worship. This was as far as they could go into the temple grounds. This was as close to God as they could get.

Within the courtyard was the Holy Place, the first of two enclosed spaces, where priests would burn incense and place the consecrated bread before God. Only the priests were permitted into the Holy Place.

Beyond that, separated by a thick, heavy curtain, was The Most Holy Place. The Most Holy Place housed the Ark of the Covenant, the golden chest which held the stone tablets given to Moses, among some other sacred items. The very presence of God hovered above the Ark.

This place was so sacred that the priests themselves only entered it once per year, and never without sacrificial blood, which the priest offered for himself and the people. No one else was allowed into The Most Holy Place. Ever.

What does The Most Holy Place have to do with Christ on the cross and intimacy WITH God? Stay with me here while we tie this together. In three of the four gospels, we find a similar account.

Picture the climactic moment of Jesus' death:

"And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split." (Matthew 27:50-51)

Can you imagine the priests in the temple when they looked up after the shaking of the ground beneath their feet and noticed the curtain ripped in two, revealing The Most Holy Place for all eyes to see? I wonder if a holy fear came over them? Now, any ol' body could go in!

Exactly. Any ol' body could go in. Glory to God!

Hebrews reveals to us the amazing truth of what happened that Good Friday when the curtain was torn:

"Since we have confidence to enter The Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body....". (Hebrews 10:19-20)

Stop. Do you see it? Jesus not only made a way, through the sacrifice of his body, but He IS the Way. "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) It is through him, our High Priest, that we are able to pass through the curtain and come into the very presence of God the Father. Wow!

What is the promise of hope that the torn curtain of Jesus' body offered us? God tells us himself - he doesn't want us to miss it:

He will make himself known to us, he will put his laws in our hearts, we will share intimacy with him, and he will forgive our sins and remember our sins no more. (paraphrased: Jeremiah 31:33-34; Hebrews 8:10-13)

How's that to make a Friday 'good'?

WITH. It’s what God has desired from the beginning of time. It’s what he will pursue until the end of time. And the amazing gift of being WITH God the Father, in an intimate, everyday relationship is all because of Jesus and that curtain being torn.

Is God uprooting you so you will learn the reality of WITH? Will you choose to leave the outer courts and boldly pass through the curtain opened for you, and into the very presence of God?

As you face the challenges of everyday life, never forget:

He is WITH you always. Where I am, There He is. Even to the very end of time.

Wrestling with God

You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. (Matthew 5:3, The Message)

I listened to a friend today really struggling with a difficult issue. Something has her stuck and unable to move forward. After she was encouraged to pray and really talk with God about what is holding her back, the story of Jacob wrestling God kept coming to mind. 

Jacob was heading into a very anxious and uncertain situation. He was actually in a moment of panic and fear when a "man" suddenly appeared and began to wrestle with Jacob. Remember the story of how Jacob tricked his father Isaac into giving him the blessing intended for his older brother Esau? Well, suffice it to say, things did not go well between the brothers after the truth came to light. Esau had it in for Jacob, and rightfully so. That led to Jacob running away to live with his uncle in Haran. Now, Genesis 32 begins to tell the story of Esau and Jacob seeing one another after many years apart following their ugly separation. Jacob is understandably extremely nervous, thinking Esau still wants to kill him for that little trick he played. He begins to send ahead of him extravagant gifts for Esau, to soften him up. Then he sent ahead his family and all of his possessions.

 I am not sure what made Jacob stay behind all alone on the eve of this fateful reunion, but we see that his being alone on this night made all this difference:

Genesis 32:24-30 (The Message) 

24-25 But Jacob stayed behind by himself, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he couldn’t get the best of Jacob as they wrestled, he deliberately threw Jacob’s hip out of joint.
26 The man said, “Let me go; it’s daybreak.”
Jacob said, “I’m not letting you go ’til you bless me.”
27 The man said, “What’s your name?”
He answered, “Jacob.”
28 The man said, “But no longer. Your name is no longer Jacob. From now on it’s Israel (God-Wrestler); you’ve wrestled with God and you’ve come through.”
29 Jacob asked, “And what’s your name?”
The man said, “Why do you want to know my name?” And then, right then and there, he blessed him.
30 Jacob named the place Peniel (God’s Face) because, he said, “I saw God face-to-face and lived to tell the story!”

The first thing that strikes me about this passage is that Jacob is alone. If our wrestling with God is ever going to be effective, we need to devote time to being alone with God. So many people are afraid of being alone with or still before God, present company included. We must get over that! The results of Jacob's wrestling match required focus, time and lots of effort. So should our wrestlings with God. 

Next, while this passage says Jacob wrestled with a "man", it is believed it was God himself in the form of a man (as Jacob realized in v.30). And let's not skip over the fact that they wrestled "until daybreak". That means all night. How's that for a rough night? Really, though, I am sure many of us have had times when it seemed like the "nights", the dark times, in our lives would never end, so unrelenting they can be. It can be hard to cling to God through a dark night, full of unknowns! But even the darkest, most painful night brings the promise of a new day and a fresh start. 

We see that wrestling with God can cause discomfort and pain: "[the man] deliberately threw Jacob's hip out of joint". He would walk the rest of his days with a limp, as a reminder of his encounter with God. Sometimes God will dislocate things in our lives in order to bring us to the end of ourselves, so that we realize we cannot go on without Him.

You may be wondering why, if this man is supposed to really be God, verse 25 says he couldn't get the best of Jacob. It's not the he couldn't - but he allowed Jacob to hold on to him. That illustrates the grace of our God who will never leave us in our trials, fears and battles.

By the end of this wrestling match, we see that Jacob is not the same as he began it. In a literal sense, his name is changed. Jacob means "deceiver" or "grabber". But as he engaged the Lord that night, the Lord issued him a new identity after the struggle was over. He is not who he was. Israel, "God-wrestler" was his new name. He went from "deceiver" to "prevailer". We, too, will be transformed and prevail when we cling to God! We, too, will not be who we were after a time of wrestling with God.

We also see that being persistent and bold with God brings blessing. We may struggle throughout he pain and loneliness of the dark night, but by daybreak, His blessing will come. God honors us when we cling to him!

What are you wrestling with today? Choose to get on the mat with God and work this thing out. Wrestling with God, even when we are angry or hurt, is better than running away - for we are still holding on to Him.

Loving Father - you never let us go. Thank you! Work out in us all that you must, for our holiness and effectiveness in your kingdom. By your grace, we are transformed and blessed!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Application:

+ How long does God have to wrestle with you before  you yield every area of your life to Him?

+ What does God have to dislocate in your life before you come to the end of yourself?

+ Do you need God to rename you to receive your blessing?

The Word:

+ I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go..I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. (Genesis 28:15)

+  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

+ [Jesus:] “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. 4 You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. 5 You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought. 6 You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat. 7 You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for. 8 You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. 9 You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family." (Matthew 5: 3-9, The Message)

Be the Moon

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16 NIV

I grew up singing "This Little Light of Mine" as a kid in church. Even today, my kids sing it heartily in chapel every week at school, waving their fingers like candle wicks:

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine - 

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. 

As inspiring as this song is, there has always been a part of me that felt some pressure about being the "light". How could I  possibly shed light? To be one that the world would see and think of God seems an overwhelming task. Besides, there are many days that my heart can feel rather dark. To be "light" when I feel "dark" seems downright impossible.

However, last night I read something that sort of put this whole "be a light" calling on its head. Louie Giglio, founder of the Passion movement, challenged his audience one night: "Be the moon!"

What? All this time I'd been trying to be the sun! Hmm...

The more I pondered this directive, the more it made perfect sense. After all, doesn't the moon get its light from the sun? Moonlight, the light that reaches Earth from the Moon, consists mostly of sunlight.

A full moon is about 500,000 times fainter than the sun. Similarly, we will never be the full expression of the glory of the One and Only. And yet, the moon is the brightest object in the sky after the sun!

If I am going to "be the moon" as Louie challenges, I have to get my light from the Son.

Louie confirmed that, saying,"You don't have any light on your own. We only reflect the light of Another."

Beautifully, Genesis 1:26-27 reveals this was God's design and intent from the very start:

Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature so they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, and, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.”  God created human beings;  he created them godlike,  reflecting God’s nature. He created them male and female.

                                                                          (The Message) 

"Reflecting our nature; reflecting God's nature." God never intended for us to let our own little lights shine - to be our own lights of the world. He meant for us to reflect THE Light, His Light! After all, we were created to be His image-bearers.

The more God reveals to me the ways in which I try to follow Jesus in my own strength, and in my own way, the more I see how I've made myself an idol in my own pursuit of God. What irony.  The more I strive and the less I surrender, the more I dampen that divine reflection. The more I distort it with Self and the fingerprints of the world.

Jesus gently reminds me of what He said in John 15:5: "You can do nothing apart from Me." Not even the divine reflection for which I am made.

It's true. A reflection requires a light source. 

The sun is a source of light. The moon is a reflection of that light. For me to "be the moon", I must reflect the Son's Light!

But, what does this look like, if not by self-effort?


I hear Louie again: "When you and I get in the right place, Christ shines in us." 

And I hear echoes of John 15:4 ... Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No image bearer can reflect by itself; it must remain in the light source. Neither can you reflect unless you remain in My Light.

I need to be aquatinted with and know God's character by way of a daily, intimate relationship with Him so that I am able and equipped, by His Spirit within me, to be His reflection.

In Christ, I get to be the moon, shining the soft glow of hope in the dark night of this present world. Our ability to shed the Light of Christ in this dark and broken world is an honor and a high calling. May our reflections point others to the True Source of Light.

I can already feel that strange burden of being a light lifting. I am not responsible for producing the light, only reflecting it! I was never meant to be the sun (or the Son). As I yield my will to Christ Jesus, I position myself in Christ's presence. There, I can absorb Him - His character, His love, His grace, His forgiveness - His Light.  

When we draw near to God, He draws near to us. And when He does, His Light covers us. Just like when the moon is in alignment with the sun, it reflects that brilliant light and illuminates our world.

Make us your own, your holy people, / light for the world to see. / Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts. / Shine through the darkness. / Christ, be our light! / Shine in your church gathered today. // Christ Be Our Light // Bernadette Farrell

You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 MSG

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

+ What can you do, practically speaking, to better position yourself to absorb the light of Christ in your life? What does this look like on a moment-to-moment, day-to-day basis?

+ We were made to reflect... And if not God, we will reflect something. Consider what you may be reflecting. Is there sin, judgment, unforgiveness, a twisted gospel, pride, brokenness being reflected? If so, start by realigning yourself with the Son through confession and repentance. Then soak up His grace-light. He will ready you to reflect a clearer image of Him.

+ Journal and imagine what the characteristics are of the Light. What is it like? How do you know it when you see, hear, feel or experience it?

+ Find at least one way each day to be a light to someone, sharing the love of Christ.

+ Think of a time when you noticed someone else being a light. What can you learn from them?

Small Bites

I am discovering just how much our culture has its claws in me. In our fast-food, over-sized portion, eat-on-the-way world, it is no wonder that I expect my spiritual growth to work in the same way. If I would only consume larger portions of Biblical and theological writings, if I could toss up more prayers throughout the day, and if I would serve more, then my heart would be right. The fruit of the Spirit would be conspicuous in me. Right?

Today God reminded me that is not the case in His economy. More (or faster) is not better in God's eyes: "Better is one handful of tranquility [less] than two handfuls of toil and chasing the wind [more]." Ecclesiastes 4:6.

Instead, God is teaching me to take small bites. Chew slowly. Taste the flavor.  Swallow. Digest. Just like I tell my kids when we sit down to a wonderful meal I have worked hard over. I want to enjoy it and taste every bite purposefully. But sometimes they are so hungry, they shovel it in, missing the flavor of the secret ingredient.

God does not desire me to mindlessly devour the truths that He is teaching me, only to quickly become empty again. I must let them roll around in my mouth, let them take root in my mind and heart, before taking another bite.

Slow down. Listen. Absorb.

Truth will take its hold in my deepest soul this way, so that when I see my reflection in the mirror and then go away, the memory will still be crystal clear. I will remember - I am His.

Practically speaking, the "small bites" message has come to mean that when I read a verse of scripture or a small passage and it speaks to me, I stop. No more reading. I begin to meditate on and journal about what I find. I pray and talk to God about what He is showing me and how it applies to my life. I get still and listen to His voice. I continue to gnaw on that truth until I feel free to move forward.

For the last week I have been camped on two verses from James 1:19-20:

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

Not only has the Holy Spirit shown me lately that I could improve my communication with others (especially when my red-haired temper lights up!), but He has now given me to tools to improve it. I just need to learn to use them before moving on to something else. I am also very moved by knowing that God desires for us to live a righteous life. Does that affect you, too?

The crazy thing is - this is starting to work. And I am a stubborn and rebellious gal. Just today in a conversation with my husband, I was getting agitated. Suddenly, I heard the words of those verses echoing in my mind. It stopped me in my tracks, I calmed down and held my tongue (a miracle!).

If you, too, have struggled with experiencing spiritual growth, try taking smaller bites from the Bread of Life. It will fill you up better than ever, and keep you full longer! :)

Her Name is Diane

Last Thursday I was in my church's reception area, asking about vacation Bible school forms and making small talk with the receptionist. Suddenly, the door swung open and a woman I will not soon forget struggled in through the door. She looked to be near fifty, with her short brown curls pushed out of her face with a plastic headband.  She had a leg brace on and an obviously swollen leg and foot. She walked slowly and painfully across the room and eased herself into a chair.  The receptionist asked if there was something she could help her with.  The lady, clearly exhausted from the short walk from the car to the chair, exhaled and said, "I don't know. But I hope so.  I'm having a real hard time lately, and with my leg hurt I can't work right now. I've been living in my car. I wondered if maybe you could help me out with some groceries or gas? Maybe a gift card?"  The receptionist explained she didn't have any gift cards to give away. The woman sat for another moment and then heaved herself up and said, "Well, thank you anyways", and began to make her way to the door.

It was as clear as day as I watched this exchange unfold.  God might as well have tapped me on the shoulder and said, "This one's for you."  I tossed a quick wave to the receptionist as I scooted out the door behind the lady.  "Ma'am!"  I called as I followed her down the walkway.  As she neared her car, she turned toward me.  She truly looked desperate and hopeless.  "Tell me what's going on,"  I asked her.

She started to reiterate some of what she had stated a moment ago in the office.  She told me about living in her car, and how a friend of hers, who worked at a nearby 7-11, let her take a shower recently. She nodded over her shoulder at a frozen dinner someone had given her, which she had sitting on her dashboard heating up in the sun. As I looked behind her at her beat up maroon Explorer, it was clear she truly was sleeping in her car. In the back seat were some pillows and blankets, and in the front seat were an assortment of books, bags and personal effects. The car was crammed with what appeared to be all of her possessions. My heart ached as I listened to her story. What would I do in her position? Hurt, alone, unable to provide for my most basic needs?  Where was God for this woman?  Did she even know about Him?

I'll tell you where God was for this woman. He was busy being Jehovah-Jireh, the God who provides.  He divinely placed me there in that office, at that particular moment in time. All I had to do was say yes to the opportunity He was placing before me.

As I looked over her shoulder in the parking lot, I could see the grocery store across the street behind her.  She had not asked for money, but gift cards.  That I could do. And I would go on faith that she would indeed use what I planned to give for noble purposes.  In other words, I was already praying that God would not allow her to go in and blow it all on cigarettes and booze. I wanted to believe this woman's needs were as authentic as they appeared. As if to allay my concerns over legitimacy, the Holy Spirit poured out a peace over me. I knew that this was for real.

I told her to follow me over to the store across the street and I would get her what she needed. She was in tears, overwhelmed with gratitude.  "Bless you!" she said, her voice choked with emotion.

As I got out of my car in the grocery store parking lot, I saw her struggling to get out of hers.  I went over and told her to just stay in the car, to not worry about trying to walk in. As I rushed into the store, a whirlwind was racing through my mind:  How much to spend? What else does she need? Oh man, my tae kwon do class starts in 2 minutes! I shook off the thoughts about being late (helping a homeless woman was a little more important than perfecting roundhouse kicks) and launched into some desperate praying: God, show me what she needs! Instantly, He put into my head "sandwich, water, pain medication".  He also gave me specific guidance on the gift cards and how much to purchase for each.  I added to the bag a devotional book I had in my car. I walked the bag of items over to her car and told her what all was there. She was truly grateful. I then asked her if she believed in God. She said she did, and she reached behind her and pulled out a very worn and well-loved paperback Bible. AWomen of Faith devotional Bible that was literally held together with the label from a Suave shampoo bottle. Then I asked if I could pray with her. She very much welcomed it, so I embraced this tender stranger to whom I feel eternally connected. As I prayed over her, asking the God who provides to meet her needs, to keep her safe, to make a way for her and bless her richly - I felt overcome with love for this woman I did not even know. God put a love in my heart for her in that moment that gave me a glimpse of how He loves her. We then went our separate ways, both in tears and overwhelmed by God's incredible love.

In His indescribable grace, He chose me that day to be love to this woman. He chose me to hug her as only He could. He chose me to give her something to eat, something to drink. To care for her. Who am I to accept such a privilege?

Yes, Lord, surely it is more blessed to give than receive. I opened my hands, and you, dear Lord, opened my heart.

I still think of her often...Her name is Diane.

What were they waiting for?

The day following Christ's crucifixion was divinely appointed to be a Sabbath day. In ancient Israel this meant a complete cessation of all work and most activities. This also meant that on this fateful Saturday morning, the women who had been following Jesus felt the tug of responsibility competing with their faithful observance of the Sabbath. What their hearts really yearned to do was do the last form of service they could for their Master-- prepare his broken body tenderly and carefully for burial. The night before, a rich man and follower of Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea, took Jesus' body to his own tomb for burial, where he was hastily anointed before sundown. But the body still required more formal burial preparations.

Imagine the frustration of wanting and needing to attend to something important, only to be forced to do absolutely nothing all day. What filled their hours that fateful Sabbath?

On top of that gnawing urge to "do" was an undercurrent of utter grief. The Lord they loved and served was dead. The One they called Messiah, the One they believed would save them, had died, just like any mere mortal. The miracles, the impassioned teachings... were they all for nothing now? All they had believed in seemed lost. How, now, would salvation come? 

What were they waiting for, now?

We today have the privilege of knowing how all of this turns out. But those ladies then did not know that the next morning their Lord would rise again and conquer death forever. I imagine, mingled with their grief, were doubts aplenty. Had Jesus really been the Messiah they all thought Him to be? If so, how could he have died?

What were they waiting for?

I wonder if some of us are in that same confusing grief-and-doubted-filled darkness that those women experienced that Sabbath. Life just doesn't make sense any more. We see no way out. Hope has been lost. Our hearts are completely broken. There simply is no light at the end of this tunnel. What, we wonder, is God doing?

And as we wait today for the Lord to rise tomorrow, what are we waiting for? What fills our hours as we pass this dark time? Will we hope beyond all hope that a miracle could still come?

When the coming of Jesus the Messiah was foretold, he was called Immanuel, "God with us". We should remember that he never stopped being "God with us", even in his death, and later (after his resurrection) when he ascended into heaven. For immediately upon his resurrection, he promised his disciples, and all who would follow, "Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20). When the Holy Spirit fell on believers 40 days later at Pentecost, this sealed the promise. And it seals us who believe today.

For me, I wait for the triumphant stomp over death that will come in the morning. The stomp that caused an earthquake and rolled the stone back from the tomb. And what came forth? God with us! Amen!

The Curtain is Torn!

Today is Good Friday. The day in Christian history that opened up the new covenant to believers. But not as a gift is opened, with bows and celebration (although the new covenant is worthy of that). No, it started with a walk into death, with flesh ripped and blood shed. It ended with a curtain torn. A day of horror. Yet in these painful and gruesome reminders of what Christ endured today, we find the promise of hope as well.

The day of Christ's crucifixtion marked the end of the relentless sacrifices that the Laws given to Moses and the Israelites required. These sacrifices were supposed to redeem the people of their sins against God. But could the blood of a goat given year after year really cleanse a guilty heart? Hebrews 9:9 tells us "the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper." Indeed, the blood and ashes that were sprinkled on the ceremonially unclean only sanctified them so they were outwardly clean (Hebrews 9:13). So, if the blood of animals and purification rituals were not enough to cleanse us inwardly, we needed more. God, in His mercy, had more in mind for us that just appearing "clean". He wanted our hearts, and He wanted them devoted to Him alone. God's plan of redemption kicks into high gear here, and this is where the new covenant comes in.

Jesus, the unblemished sacrifice, gave himself, once, for all:

"...it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore when Christ came into the world he said, 'Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me...Then I said, "Here I am...I have come to do your will". Hebrews 10:4-7

"We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body once for all." Hebrews 10:10

Why the big deal about sacrifice anyway? In God's economy, there is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22). Simple as that. So how much more will the blood of Christ be able to cleanse our consciences - Christ, who was empowered by the Holy Spirit and blameless before God!

The new covenant made intimacy with God possible for everyone. Previously this was unheard of. God was only able to be approached by His elect- His priests. In the temple, there were courtyards (one for men and one for women) where the people could congregate, present their offerings and sacrifices, hear the lessons from the preists and worship. This was as far as they could go. Beyond the courtyard was the Holy Place, where priests would burn incense and place the consecrated bread before God. Beyond that, separated by a thick, heavy curtain, was The Most Holy Place. The Most Holy Place housed the Ark of the Covenant, the golden chest which held the stone tablets given to Moses, among some other sacred items. The very presence of God hovered above the ark. This place was so sacred that the priests themselves only entered it once per year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and the people. No one else was allowed into The Most Holy Place. Ever.

What does The Most Holy Place have to do with Christ on the cross and intimacy with God? Stay with me here while we tie this together. In three of the four gospels, we find a similar account. I like Matthew's version best as we can better picture the climactic moment of Jesus' death:

"And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split." Matthew 27:50-51

Can you imagine the priests in the temple when they looked up after the shaking of the ground beneath their feet and noticed the curtain ripped in two, revealing The Most Holy Place for all eyes to see? I wonder if a holy fear came over them? Now, any old body could go in!

Exactly. Any old body could go in. Glory to God!

Hebrews reveals to us the amazing truth of what happened that Good Friday when the curtain was torn:

"Since we have confidence to enter The Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body....". (Hebrews 10:19-20)

Stop. Do you see it? Jesus not only made a way, through the sacrifice of his body, but He IS the Way. "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) It is through him, our High Preist, that we are able to pass through the curtain and come into the very presence of God the Father. Wow! And this, my friends, is the very essence of the new covenant -- that intimacy with God and forgiveness of our sins is an everlasting reality.

What is the promise of hope that the torn curtain of Jesus' body offered us? God tells us himself - he doesn't want us to miss it: He will make himself known to us, he will put his laws in our hearts, we will share intimacy with him, and he will forgive our sins and remember our sins no more. (Jeremiah 31:33-34; Hebrews 8:10-13) How's that to make a Friday 'good'?

Lord Jesus, how can we ever thank you for the price you paid to open a way for us to your Father? Your blood, which you offered up freely, paid the price of our sins, forever. Father God, we thank you for your love, which knows no bounds, and your faithful mercy. You are our Redeemer and King! May we live a life worthy of what we have received from You. Amen!