Tag: Jesus
Skipping Good Friday
by Dale on Apr.02, 2010, under Discipleship, Gospel
I drove past a cross today draped in purple. I thought for Good Friday it should be draped in black….after the exciting Good Friday Easter Egg Hunt, , etc. I draped the cross in our church’s sanctuary with the white cloth for Easter morning worship…it just seems a bit premature.
My wife and I planned a trip to the Clay County Fair tomorrow during our drive home…maybe I’m morbid, but it just doesn’t seem right to try and contemplate the meaning of Christ’s death while skipping the whole death part by engaging in so many fun activities.
In a recent Bible study we talked about some of the reasons why Jesus was put to death. Why the praises of Palm Sunday so quickly changed to the jeers and death-chants of crucifixion Friday. Jesus rode into the city of Jerusalem on the confusing colt of a donkey—it was similar to a king’s entry, but not quite the same statement a strong stallion would have made…but the people were desperate—still it seemed a strange entrance, it certainly didn’t meet the people’s expectations for a king.
Perhaps, if they encouraged him, a parade with plenty of Hosannahs; the ‘royal treatment’…. But then He didn’t conquer their oppressors, or rescued them from the stench of their poverty. He didn’t even bother to challenge Roman rule…and everybody’s remembering that dang-donkey-for-a-horse snafu…. What a let down. Despite the people’s praises and clearly demonstrated expectations, there was disappointment. Even the disciples were struggling to understand what was happening. Everyone was expecting a conquering earthly king, and Jesus takes up a basin and a towel to wash his disciples’ feet.
The people wanted Jesus to fix their circumstances and give them change they could believe in—He wanted them to transcend their circumstances and become the answers to their own prayers. They wanted him to vanquish the empire—He wanted them to transform the world. Everything that matters most to the people looses it’s significance in a kingdom of God paradigm like Jesus was proclaiming. No one wanted transcendence or transformation, much less discipleship or gospel. So, in terms of the old remaining paradigm, Jesus was just another loser or worse, a poser.
This weekend, keep in mind that Christ conquered through personal condemnation. Christ established his divine rule by becoming the suffering servant. He was made most glorious through a shameful death and we are called by grace to be faithful imitators of this Jesus. I contend that we can’t afford to skip these days of darkness, from Palm Sunday, (especially Maundy Thursday) to Resurrection Sunday, without losing an essential part of what it means to be a Christian.
Here!
by Dale on Feb.24, 2010, under Gospel
Mark 1:15 (New International Version) — 15“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Mark 1:15 (The Message) — 15 “Time’s up! God’s kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the Message.”
Mark 1:15 (The Latest EbenDale Version) — 15“The time is now! God’s kingdom is here … put your right hand in and shake it all about….
While Jesus was talking about peace and reconciliation, turning the other cheek, walking an extra mile and other similar issues, one has to eventually wonder how we ever get so wrapped up in things like war, a hostile take-over or fighting among ourselves, suing one another and other similar issues; as if the teachings of Jesus apply only in theory, or individually at best –– especially to those individuals for whom these values don’t (yet) negatively effect their quality of life. But is that what Jesus really meant? (really?)
Well, let’s just get it out in the open: although Jesus’ message was meant to be understood personally, it was never intended to be understood as a private message. What kind of Good News would that be? How is it really Good News if it isn’t shared openly? And what good is a message that doesn’t make any difference in the quality of peoples’ lives?
Let’s get this straight here in the beginning; Jesus called his message the “Gospel,” a word that commonly referred to imperial proclamations, usually about something that would change everyone’s life for the better. That kind of background gives the “Good News” Jesus was proclaiming a very strong political context. So, notice in the brief history of the Hebrew people, that it is dominated by captivity, defeat, exile and occupation by foreign governance.
———————————————————————————————–
~2000 BC — Abraham–Isaac–Jacob–Joseph–
– Egyptian Captivity — Moses — Exodus — Land of Promise –
~1000 BC — Saul — David — Solomon == Kingdom United
– Kingdom Divided — Assyrian Conquest/Exile (721 BC) — Babylonian occupation/Exile (586 BC) – Greek occupation (333 BC) – Roman occupation (63 BC) –
~1 AD — Jesus –
———————————————————————————————–
So, Mark begins his story with the ministry of John the Baptist, and it is quite literally surrounded [or bracketed] by the notion of this Gospel/Good News, (cf. vs.1 & vs.14). Furthermore, the simplicity of Jesus’ message is as personally incredible as it is politically revolutionary…. and, in all honesty, the Gospel Jesus shares doesn’t add up to any kind of addition to, or extension of, the religious rituals of Judaism –– and it certainly doesn’t lend itself to what would eventually become the megalithic religiosity of institutionalized Christianity…Jesus is simply teaching people how to live in ways that honor our creator, God.
Image what would happen if everyone began to live The Way Jesus says the Kingdom of God is.
