Veiled no longer...

One thing that has stood out to me the most in the reading of this second book is how, because of Christ's finished work on the cross, we have been ushered into the actual presence of God! The curtain separating the Holy of Holies from "normal" people was torn in two. The veil was removed. Whereas previously, only the highest priest - trembling with fear for his life - could enter the room where God's presence was, now anyone can "enter" that room...amazing! The God of the universe, the God of the atom, and everything in between, defeated death so that WE could be in His presence, so that HE could be with us. Again, amazing!  I can honestly say that I cannot think of a single day of my life when I have not felt His presence with me. Even as a young child, I conversed with Him about everything, all throughout the day.  I still do. The very thought of NOT having Him near me, with me, within me terrifies me - there would be nothing worse on earth!  Having free access to God, through Christ, having Him want me to be with Him - this is what Christ's finished work on the cross means to me. Plus, I know that not only is He with me at all times, He is also with my loved ones, even though we live in different parts of the country. What peace that brings!

Chapter 5 - In One Sentence - To Truly Reveal the Heart, Someone has to Bleed

“He is not trying to squeeze us into an alien mold.”  I Peter 2:11 says, “Dear friends I urge you as aliens and strangers in this world to abstain from sinful desires.” 

This chapter reminded me that the heart of Christ expressed in His body, me and you, actually appears alien and perhaps feels alien or weird at times.  I like Peter's matter of fact approach to this tension -- To live in God's mold as you were intended categorizes you as strange and alien.  

I felt convicted while reading.  I felt convicted that the “alien-ness” I feel is a revealing to me of my selfish heart that seeks its own glory and seeks to self-preserve (ALIEN) instead of self-give (NATURAL).

God’s pushing me today to see dying for my enemies with no strings attached as the “non-alien” and thus natural impulse of God’s heart in me.  

In other words, God is pushing me today to be His church, His body, poured out in unconditional, sacrificial love. 

My prayer is that my the eyes of my heart would be opened such that I would not see crucifixion (metaphorically and literally) as the end of life but instead as the very beginning of life.  For my crucifixion reveals the heart of God.  My crucifixion reveals life.  For Jesus, from the bosom/heart of the Father bleeding from a cursed tree, is Life.   

In one sentence – “To truly reveal the heart ….. someone has to bleed.” 

chapter 4 No More Separation

When I think about no more separation I am reminded of the fact that so many do not accept God with us.  They don't want God with us. They desire separation.  Yes it cost Him everything, which is a great amount. And yes it cost me, but that really isn't much compared to Him.  I desire and cling to His promise

Chapter 4 - The Cross -- An Eternal Weapon of Mass Creation That Simultaneously Wrecks, Transforms, and Inspires

I used to credit this line to Dietrich Bonhoeffer but after many Google searches I haven’t found anyone to whom I can give credit for the following quote.  Maybe I dreamed it.  

Whatever the case this quote has informed my journey with Christ and was echoing through my heart and mind as I read chapter 4.  “The bible is a handbook for those being sacrificed.” – Source Unknown

I will likely for all time in this age and the age to come always marvel that Jesus didn’t use the political, social, religious, economic, and military systems of this world to crucify Romans but instead used the political, social, religious, economic, and military systems at His time to be crucified on behalf of Romans, Greeks, me, and all fallen creation. 

As I think about Jesus using the fallen systems of a fallen world to die for us and broken creation, I hear 1^st Peter’s words about the gospel, “Even angels long to look into these things.”

Here’s the whole passage in context:

¹⁰ Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, ¹¹ trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. I Peter 1:10-12

When I catch a glimpse of God’s heart in the message and ministry and sacrifice of Jesus I can’t help but confess, “Once again I look upon the cross where you died.  I am humbled by your mercy and I am broken inside.”

I am always perplexed and amazed at how God’s mercy (at the cross and in His people) breaks me, humbles me, and yet at the same time inspires & invigorates at the deepest level. 

Looking at Christ on the cross creates in me one of the most unique spiritual and emotional experiences I’ve known in this world for seeing His cross simultaneously and instantaneously pounds into my core God’s promise, “I will turn your mourning into joy.”  At the cross I simultaneously and instantaneously worship Jesus with broken mourning  and glorious joy.   At no other place  than the cross do I feel shame & guilt more piercingly exposed and at the same time at no other place than the cross do I feel forgiveness & acceptance more extravagantly offered.

That crazy, mind bending, soul sifting cross!!! 

The song I quoted earlier Once Again has a refrain that repeats over and over, “Thank you for the cross. Thank you for the cross.” 

After reading chapter 4 that refrain is my prayer, “thank you for the cross. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

To wrap up this post I'll borrow from Darrell Johnson’s borrowing of John Stott’s writings:

“Let John R.W. Stott summarize this understanding of the cross: ‘Of course any contemporary observer, who saw Christ die, would have listened with astonished incredulity to the claim that the crucified was a conqueror. Had he not been rejected by his own nation, betrayed, denied and deserted by his own disciples, and executed by authority from the Roman procurator? Look at him there, spread-eagle and skewered on his cross, robbed of all freedom of movement, strung up with nails or ropes or both, pinned there and powerless. It appears to be total defeat. If there is victory, it is the victory of pride, prejudice, jealousy, hatred, cowardice and brutality. Yet the Christian claim is that the reality is the opposite of the appearance. What looks like (and indeed was) the defeat of goodness by evil is also, and more certainly, the defeat of evil by goodness. Overcome there, he was himself overcoming. Crushed by the ruthless power of Rome, he was himself crushing the serpent’s head (Gen. 3:15). The victim was the victor, and the cross is still the throne from which he rules the world.’

At the Cross

Wow! What a chapter! At the Cross the battle is won!  Such a weak looking moment turns out to be the most powerful moment in Cosmic history!  Through death - death dies!  I am reminded of the Apostle Paul's words of encouragement in II Cor. 12:9-10 - But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”   Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.

To often I can become preoccupied with the lie that strength is found in strength.  The Apostle Paul reminds us that Christ's true strength (power) is made perfect in embracing weakness! 

The pain of separation

The word separation brings to mind so many things, but ultimately it makes me think of pain and abandonment.  Reading this chapter causes me to reflect on the reality of my own sin and how it separates me from God.  That God Himself would pay the price for me is a love that is overwhelming! To accept the reality that there is NOTHING I can do to bridge the gap is humbling.  In this season of advent, I am reminded that Christmas and Easter are not separate stories to be told, but one amazing love story about a Savior who "emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."  (Phil 2:7-8)  I am so thankful that "The separation is gone!"

Mercy Bomb -- "In light of the cross we can be sure that the Fire does not consume us; it only consumes that which keeps us from being who God wants us to be." - Darrel Johnson - Chapter 3

Chapter 3 pushed me to hear afresh John the Baptist's proclamation to Peter and Andrew while they followed Jesus at a distance on a road -- "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29).  

As I beheld the Lamb of God in chapter 3 (the one who washes His disciples’ feet with his garments in degrading humility and then washes away the sin of the world in His blood in absolute degrading humility) I felt an intense welling up within me of heart thumping wonder and "Jesus, I DON'T DESERVE THAT!!!!!!" gratitude. 

 I am reminded by the chapter that Christ's gospel redeems with unstoppable, cosmic shattering power.  His love poured out is fiery, white hot mercy that melts hearts and spurs motives and actions that can change any population (like for example a population of students. :)) 

His love poured out can move (and groove) a population from self-possessed, withdrawn pride to an uninhibited dance of sacrificial kindness and ecstatic joy.  I am left by Chapter 3 astounded and punch drunk from the soul-pounding amazing kindness and faithfulness of Christ.  Through chapter 3 I am hearing afresh another proclamation from John the Baptist in John 3:30 - "He must become greater, I must become less."

Ransomed to be Free

It never occurred to me that when Jesus became human it was forever (p.34) and I'm not sure that I agree. The book goes on to say that He became sin (and so does 2 Cor.5:21) but he didn't stay sin. He defeated sin! Now I need to live a life that reflects that sin has no hold on me...and I can only do that with Jesus' help.