Oh my. This week, last week, all the weeks have been a blur amidst the frenzy of activities, planning and preparations for the Easter season. I stepped out of a relaxing yet hectic vacation time into an all out onslaught of frantic preparations for a Good Friday Walk through for my church. Thank God everything came together and went off without a hitch. A great deal of my time (almost 10 hours) went into producing this video to end the walk through. If you care to check it out, you can do so by clicking HERE.
In the light of all the Easter thoughts that are expressed this time of year, I began to think about what I could possibly share in relation to this ongoing commentary on man's search for significance. What impact does this event in history have on all of our lives? What possible relevance does this one concept have compared to our defined lives?
Everything.
Jesus serves as the ultimate example of human existence and purpose. His entire life was wrapped around a singular purpose. Everything else that Jesus did revolved around his destiny. His teaching, his ministry, his words, his miracles, everything pointed to the cross where he would suffer and die as an atoning sacrifice for all of mankind.
But in and of himself, Jesus was not concerned about gaining fame or notoriety through what he did. Jesus, knowing he was God, knowing the significance of what he was doing, did not allow that to be his focus. Everything he did pointed to the cross, yes, but is also was directed back to honor God the Father.
The paradox of Jesus' life was that he had the authority of God because he was God. But being man, his life was about serving God (not himself). This is the theological element that confounds scholar and layman alike. It is beyond total comprehension and yet it is true. God, wrapped in human flesh, living out humanity and serving God selflessly. It seems a contradiction in concept, yet this is the mystery of the trinity.
What's the point? Glad you asked. The point is not for us to understand how this is possible, but to take from Jesus the ultimate example for fulfilled significance. There is so much more I have to share regarding the fallacious methods and ideologies people adopt in order to feign significance in this life. But Jesus serves as the ultimate fulfillment of destiny.
In Jesus we find meaning, hope, life, and purpose. In Christ we can discover who we really are and who we are meant to be, what we are meant to do.
Jesus, through his life, ministry and death, exemplified what it means to be human. His life was spent in obedience and relationship with God the Father. This is what God intended since the beginning. This relationship with the Father is precisely why Jesus was able to do what he did in terms of ministry and miracles. It was God's power flowing through him that allowed for the impossible to take place. Jesus rested on God's power, not his own (again, the theology is that Jesus COULD have done it all, since he was God, but he emptied himself and rested on God's authority). It's such a mind bender, but Jesus serves as the example for how we are to live.
We find that we are supposed to model Christ in how he lived and served and trusted God. This allows us to see who we are supposed to be. The differences between us and Jesus serve to help identify who we really are. We know that Jesus lived a perfect life, sinless, blameless, righteous and holy. We can clearly see the stark difference that we are NOT any of those things. Hardly... we are broken, evil, miserable, and debase in thought and deed. Knowing this allows us to see clearly the need to accept that most significant thing that Jesus did, allowing the opportunity for forgiveness according to the blood shed on the cross.
This acceptance of forgiveness and atonement - this covering for our sins and wiping away of the guilt and record of wrongs - is what gives us a fresh start and presents the possibility for fulfilled purpose. Any item being used for a misappropriated use is not living up to the potential intended for that particular item. In the same way, people who are concerned with doing things "their" way and doing what is wrong are not living up to the potential for what could be happening. Christ wants us to be the game changers of this world. And that can't happen while sin reigns and our lives are dedicated for self-service or pointless purposes.
The most amazing thing is that accepting Jesus' sacrifice and forgiveness offers us a NEW LIFE, transformed heart and mind able to rise above the previously dark and dead world we have been accustomed to. Our purpose in life is abel to be fulfilled. The purpose to worship God and obey His will. This is possible because through Jesus we are able to be made useable for God's service. Our hearts and minds can KNOW what God wants us to do. We have certainty in our actions and decisions because doubt has been erased. That alone is an awesome thought. A life with direction and clear purpose is like finding a burried treasure.
What's more, our lives are cleaned up as we are able to live up to the righteousness that God expects. Our actions match up with our motives, and our motives match up with the attitude of Christ. Our very being is molded and transformed to be who we were meant to be. That is comforting. There's no confusion or lostness to be experienced in trying to determine who we are "supposed" to be because the Creator of all, the one person who truly KNOWS who we are, is able to apply his hands to our lives and forge us into our destiny.
Purpose, significance, destiny. These are all only able to be fulfilled through Christ. Any other way is a lie designed to create false hope.
How do we know Jesus was who he said he was? How do we know this is true? Because Jesus lives! He didn't just die on a cross, he rose from the grave and conquered where every human being has failed. He defeated sin and death and offers us the same ability if only we join him!
That's why we have Easter! CELEBRATE! THIS is the most significant time, period!
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