pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: death


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Call of Christ

Christ chose to come and live among us.  God incarnate made the choice to walk in a human body. In the form of Jesus, God stepped out of heaven and down among us.  The people who lived with Jesus and witnessed His life were blessed to be in His presence, as are we who read about Him 2,000 years later.

In today’s culture, we are impressed when a president of a big company spends time with the workers or when a celebrity athlete spends time in a school or hospital.  At times we too are called to step out of or normal circle and to spend time ministering to the poor, the widow, the orphan, the prisoner.  For some it is a similar step to what Jesus did, willingly offering self for other’s benefit.

Christ set the ultimate example of giving when He submitted to death for our benefit.  Jesus Christ became totally powerless in order to gain ultimate power over death.  He had to be weak and vulnerable in order to gain strength and glory.  We are not called, in general, to give our lives for another, but we are all asked: what can you offer?

Scripture reference: Ephesians 1: 20-23


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A Good for Thanks

I wonder what went through His followers that day as they watched Jesus die.  Were they simply full of despair and could not think of anything past His pain and the hurt of losing Jesus?  Were they full of doubt and questions about who He really was – if Jesus was God’s son how could He die this way?  Were some even mad at Jesus for not calling down an army of angels to establish His kingdom right then and there?

2000 years later we look back on the scene and we know the story, we know the outcome.  Our perspective is different.  Even though we know the outcome, it is still good to sit in the moment for a bit, to remember the day Jesus died.

What goes through our minds as we look back at the crucifixion with our 20/20 hindsight?  As we look back do we see the brutal beating He took as he bore the stripes of our transgressions?  Do we recognize the stripes that stand for you and for me?  They are there, on His body, because He died for all sin – past, present, and future.  Do we see His blood running down his head, hands, feet and side as they nailed Him to the cross and pierced His side?  That blood is the new covenant that washes away our sins.  Do we see Jesus’ human body breathe its last as it hangs broken and battered on the cross?  Do we see in it the body that is now the bread of life to us?  Today is a good day to remember and to offer our thanks to our King and to our Redeemer.


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He Is Strong

Sin is in our world.  One does not have to look too far to see or find it.  In Romans 5 Paul was writing to a newly formed church that lived in dangerous times.  The Romans and the Jews were both openly against the church.  There could be a cost to saying you were a follower of the Way.  We too live in dangerous times.  We too could be asked to pay a cost for following Jesus.  While it is true that in many places around the world the cost is much higher, we now live in a culture that is not always friendly towards Christianity and is at times decidedly against our faith.

It is for these reasons that we must keep Christ’s redeeming act on the cross in the forefront of our minds.  Since Adam ate of the fruit, sin has been in the world.  It is an ever-present thing in our lives.  Satan comes at us from so many angles and in so many ways.  But praise be to God because He pursues us even more.  God was willing to become Christ incarnate, to walk amongst us, and to face death upon the cross so that He could bear the sins of the world and claim victory over sin and death through His resurrection.  Through Jesus’ obedience we are given the way to be restored into righteousness, so that we ae once again part of the good humanity that God first created.  We are set free from the burdens and chains of sin and death.

As we walk through Lent, we are called to be emptied and to be freed from what weighs us down.  As we look within ourselves may we find what God calls us to be as His child.  Through His strength may we strip away that which is of this world.  In our weakness may we reach out to Him, for He is strong.  May we daily be renewed in Christ as we walk through this holiest of seasons.


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Choices We Face

Life and prosperity or … death and destruction? Seems a pretty simple choice when put that way, doesn’t it? When one thinks in these terms concerning the big picture, it is hard to imagine many choosing death and destruction. But in the day to day decisions, we don’t always see things in this way. How easy it is to choose something that leads more toward death and destruction than towards life and prosperity!

In our decisions, if it is painted as “good” versus “evil” most would choose good. Few would explicitly choose evil. In life versus death we often think that death is so far away and it hardly seems a decision. If our neck were in a noose or if we had a gun to our head, then the choice would seem more real but it would hardly be a choice at that point! But Satan is much trickier than this!

Once one is on the path of following Christ it can seem almost easy. The daily following of God’s ways and His commands leads to a sense of contentment and knowing that no matter what, you are loved. Storms of life seem to be a bit less rocky; although they do come, there is a peace that resides in Christ that allows us to lean into Him during the trials of life.

But much can keep us from the path and much can pull at us once on the path. Sometimes is it just us – our ego, our judging attitudes, our need to be in control, ______ … you fill in your blank! Sometimes it is the messages culture and the media throw at us. So much points to other gods and idols. Sometimes it is so hard to see the path that leads to life eternal. But in those times, we can pray simple words asking the Holy Spirit to guide and lead us. Through our faith, God will show the way. Come Holy Spirit, come!!