Juli, Ashlyn, and I spent St. Patrick's Day in the north of Ireland in counties Tyrone (Northern Ireland) and Donegal (part of the Republic of Ireland, but as far north as any counties in Northern Ireland). We dropped my mom (who had spent her week of spring break with us) off at the Belfast airport before heading west to Omagh and then eventually Letterkenny.
While in Omagh we visited the Ulster American Folk Park - a fantastic re-creation of the life emigrants (and immigrants) lived 200 and 300 years ago both in Ireland and in America. After that we caught the Paddie's Day Parade in Letterkenny. We stayed in Balleybofey, a village only a few miles from Raphoe where several of my ancestors lived before heading to the American colonies.
While at the hotel in Balleybofey, I read a ridiculous article in one of the British newspapers claiming that St. Patrick had not in fact been a slave in Ireland before returning to preach the gospel, but had instead been a slave trader. There's not a shred of historical evidence that even remotely points to this absurdity, but that doesn't seem to stop the revisionist historians from delving into their fantasies. Don't believe everything you read! - Shay
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Strength in Weakness
I think a lot of us who follow Christ worry about messing things up. We realize that we are called to be salt and light to a dark and dangerous world and so when we fall short - when we're not as strong as we ought to be - we think that not only have we disappointed our Lord, but we might have also caused the gospel to be seen in a poor light. This is certainly something we need to be aware of. But if we think about what the gospel really is - good news for a lost people, grace for sinners - then shouldn't these moments when we mess things up also point people to a power that's greater than ourselves, greater than themselves? The reality is, we will mess things up, we do mess things up. Rather than pretending that we have it all together (hypocrisy), isn't it better to admit it when we don't?
People tend to pride themselves in their strengths while doing the best they can to cover up their weaknesses. We do it at the macro level throughout society and we do it at the micro level in our individual lives. No one wants to admit that they are weak. And yet, we all know that every single one of us struggles. We endure trials, we mess things up, we fail, and we wrestle with these vulnerabilities. But, we tend to wrestle with them alone and society tells us that we have to overcome them through our own effort and strength.
Here recently, I've been reminded that the areas of my life where I'm in progress, still imperfect, still very messy, are the very areas of my life that can speak powerfully to people who are also on the road to redemption and yet realize that it's a long road indeed. In 2 Corinthians the apostle Paul boldly declares that instead of covering up our weaknesses, we are better served to be open and honest about them so that Christ's power might clearly be demonstrated in our lives. He states that when he is weak, then he is strong. Like so much of the gospel, the idea of strength emerging out of our weakness is counterintuitive. We would rather go from strength to strength. But the gospel itself is an illustration of power and strength emerging out of weakness. As Paul states in 1 Corinthians 1:23-24, "...we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God." I pray that we might all learn to allow God's strength and power to overcome our weaknesses. - Shay
People tend to pride themselves in their strengths while doing the best they can to cover up their weaknesses. We do it at the macro level throughout society and we do it at the micro level in our individual lives. No one wants to admit that they are weak. And yet, we all know that every single one of us struggles. We endure trials, we mess things up, we fail, and we wrestle with these vulnerabilities. But, we tend to wrestle with them alone and society tells us that we have to overcome them through our own effort and strength.
Here recently, I've been reminded that the areas of my life where I'm in progress, still imperfect, still very messy, are the very areas of my life that can speak powerfully to people who are also on the road to redemption and yet realize that it's a long road indeed. In 2 Corinthians the apostle Paul boldly declares that instead of covering up our weaknesses, we are better served to be open and honest about them so that Christ's power might clearly be demonstrated in our lives. He states that when he is weak, then he is strong. Like so much of the gospel, the idea of strength emerging out of our weakness is counterintuitive. We would rather go from strength to strength. But the gospel itself is an illustration of power and strength emerging out of weakness. As Paul states in 1 Corinthians 1:23-24, "...we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God." I pray that we might all learn to allow God's strength and power to overcome our weaknesses. - Shay
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Those We Meet in Coffee Shops
Yesterday morning I was enjoying a cup of coffee in one of our local shops when in walked a couple of gentlemen, one wearing a religious collar. I overheard their conversation regarding churches and the Christian faith, but continued to read the book I had brought with me, The Jesus Way by Eugene Peterson. Noticing the title of the book and the author, the older gentleman, the one wearing the collar, approached me and began to chat. He lead in with something like, "It's great to see a young man, reading the Scriptures and reading a book by Eugene Peterson. Hello, fellow brother in the Lord, I'm Jim and this is my friend Sam."
Jim mentioned that he was the local Rector for the Raheny parish of the Church of Ireland and that Sam was a former parishioner who is now a part of another congregation. I mentioned that I loved the architecture of the All Saints church building and that I had always wanted to have a look inside and Jim responded, "Are you busy now? Let me pay for your coffee and we'll take you over and give you a tour. Besides, a BBC crew is going to swing by in a few minutes as they are planning to film a few scenes in the church for an upcoming television series."
I couldn't have asked for a better guided tour. Jim and Sam spent several minutes describing many of the architectural features, explaining the symbolic significance of the stained glass windows, and giving me a brief history of the building and the parish. Arthur Guinness, the great grandson of the original Arthur Guinness (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Guinness) proposed and funded the building of the church back in the 1880s and is buried in a crypt in a side room located within the building. Jim allowed me to have a look at the Guinness crypt and I noticed that next to it sat a 250th anniversary can of the black stuff. Underneath the can was a note, written by an anonymous person who thanked the Guinness family for their contribution to Irish culture. Jim said the can was left outside the building during the 250 year celebrations back in 2009.
As we finished the tour the BBC crew had arrived and were milling around making plans for the shots they hoped to get later in the day. Jim, Sam, and I exchanged details and shared a brief prayer. Jim asked if I would be willing to speak at their harvest Sunday in September and I agreed to do so. However, he called me later explaining that he had double booked the date and asked if I would be willing to speak another time and I of course agreed to do so.
I look forward to chatting with Jim in the future and I pray that God will bless whatever time we may have to spend in each others company. As iron sharpens iron, may our interactions with fellow followers of Jesus help us to be faithful in the tasks that God sets before us. If you want to learn more about the All Saints church here's a link to it's Wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints%27_Church,_Raheny. You never know who you're going to meet in a coffee shop. - Shay
Jim mentioned that he was the local Rector for the Raheny parish of the Church of Ireland and that Sam was a former parishioner who is now a part of another congregation. I mentioned that I loved the architecture of the All Saints church building and that I had always wanted to have a look inside and Jim responded, "Are you busy now? Let me pay for your coffee and we'll take you over and give you a tour. Besides, a BBC crew is going to swing by in a few minutes as they are planning to film a few scenes in the church for an upcoming television series."
I couldn't have asked for a better guided tour. Jim and Sam spent several minutes describing many of the architectural features, explaining the symbolic significance of the stained glass windows, and giving me a brief history of the building and the parish. Arthur Guinness, the great grandson of the original Arthur Guinness (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Guinness) proposed and funded the building of the church back in the 1880s and is buried in a crypt in a side room located within the building. Jim allowed me to have a look at the Guinness crypt and I noticed that next to it sat a 250th anniversary can of the black stuff. Underneath the can was a note, written by an anonymous person who thanked the Guinness family for their contribution to Irish culture. Jim said the can was left outside the building during the 250 year celebrations back in 2009.
As we finished the tour the BBC crew had arrived and were milling around making plans for the shots they hoped to get later in the day. Jim, Sam, and I exchanged details and shared a brief prayer. Jim asked if I would be willing to speak at their harvest Sunday in September and I agreed to do so. However, he called me later explaining that he had double booked the date and asked if I would be willing to speak another time and I of course agreed to do so.
I look forward to chatting with Jim in the future and I pray that God will bless whatever time we may have to spend in each others company. As iron sharpens iron, may our interactions with fellow followers of Jesus help us to be faithful in the tasks that God sets before us. If you want to learn more about the All Saints church here's a link to it's Wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints%27_Church,_Raheny. You never know who you're going to meet in a coffee shop. - Shay
Monday, February 20, 2012
Resurrection
Our Christian community began studying Romans a few weeks ago. Every time I read through it I'm reminded of what a magnificent piece of literature it is and even more importantly, what a magnificent gospel we've been given. Romans is good news. The gospel is good news. Here are some highlights from Paul's letter that have brought me encouragement recently.
"For I'm not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, 'The one who is righteous will live by faith.' - 1:16-17
"Abraham...in the presence of God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become 'the father of many nations,' according to what was said, 'So numerous shall your descendants be.' He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead." - 4:17-19
"Do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his." - 6:3-5
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death." - 8:1-2
"But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you." - 8:9-11
"We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved." 8:22-24
"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." - 8:38-39
I wrote a poem reflecting some of these themes some years ago.
Resurrection
Lying in the dust the corpse rots through and through.
There's no more life to live, there's nothing left to do.
Then the bones begin to rattle, the bones begin to shake.
The sinews and the flesh, new life begins to make.
Gasping deep, lungs expanding, Spirit's wind, life's breath.
The living God's the giving God and life has conquered death!
His body hangs limp, beaten, broken, his side dripping blood.
On the faces of the women, tears stream down in a flood.
He was the one who'd redeem his people, but the cause is now lost.
None could imagine the pain and the suffering, no one could count the cost.
And the tomb stands ready to receive his lifeless body dead,
But it's Sunday morning now and resurrection wins instead!
She's heard of resurrection, but it seems to good to be true.
Yet through faith her heart believes, so there's nothing she won't do.
Her dead body is buried; the grave of water sucks her in.
She's covered in his blood, and she rises free from sin.
Her old life is behind her, in her new life she looks ahead
To the time when he returns and her body will rise again!
"O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways...For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen." - 11:33 & 36
Good news indeed. - Shay
"For I'm not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, 'The one who is righteous will live by faith.' - 1:16-17
"Abraham...in the presence of God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become 'the father of many nations,' according to what was said, 'So numerous shall your descendants be.' He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead." - 4:17-19
"Do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his." - 6:3-5
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death." - 8:1-2
"But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you." - 8:9-11
"We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved." 8:22-24
"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." - 8:38-39
I wrote a poem reflecting some of these themes some years ago.
Resurrection
Lying in the dust the corpse rots through and through.
There's no more life to live, there's nothing left to do.
Then the bones begin to rattle, the bones begin to shake.
The sinews and the flesh, new life begins to make.
Gasping deep, lungs expanding, Spirit's wind, life's breath.
The living God's the giving God and life has conquered death!
His body hangs limp, beaten, broken, his side dripping blood.
On the faces of the women, tears stream down in a flood.
He was the one who'd redeem his people, but the cause is now lost.
None could imagine the pain and the suffering, no one could count the cost.
And the tomb stands ready to receive his lifeless body dead,
But it's Sunday morning now and resurrection wins instead!
She's heard of resurrection, but it seems to good to be true.
Yet through faith her heart believes, so there's nothing she won't do.
Her dead body is buried; the grave of water sucks her in.
She's covered in his blood, and she rises free from sin.
Her old life is behind her, in her new life she looks ahead
To the time when he returns and her body will rise again!
"O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways...For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen." - 11:33 & 36
Good news indeed. - Shay
Monday, February 13, 2012
Some Familiar Places
"A guy from Texas had to go all the way to England to meet a girl from Oklahoma." That's the line I end with when I tell people how Juli and I met nearly 13 years ago. We were both in a short-term apprentice missions program and we were blessed to have worked with a great group of Christians in Nottingham in the East Midlands of England. Juli began the program a year earlier than I did, so our time in the UK only overlapped for about 4 months (I should note that Juli's a year and a half younger than me though).
It only took me about 2 months to realize that Juli was the one for me, although as she remembers it, I was fairly smitten as soon as I got off the plane. Let's just say it took Juli a couple of years to come around. In fact, one evening as I walked around our local village of Long Eaton wrestling with my unrequited emotions, I sat down next to three lads having a pint outside a local pub. I didn't know these guys from Adam, but I had to talk to someone. I proceeded to share my girl problems and they patiently listened. Once I had regurgitated my sad story, I thanked them for their time and continued on my journey. I wonder if those fellas ever remind themselves of the time when they served as the advice column for a strange American chap? I sometimes remind Juli of what mental anguish she put me through.
Fast forward to 2012 and its been nearly 10 years since Juli and I were last in Nottingham. We've been to other parts of the UK since then and last May I actually passed Long Eaton on a train, but we've not had the chance to walk around, see the sights, hear the sounds, and smell the smells of the place where our relationship began. On Wednesday and Thursday of this week we'll have that opportunity as we travel to the East Midlands to visit a church that's involved in serving their community in some ways that we'd like to emulate here in Dublin. We're looking forward to learning a lot as well as seeing some familiar places and some familiar faces. - Shay
It only took me about 2 months to realize that Juli was the one for me, although as she remembers it, I was fairly smitten as soon as I got off the plane. Let's just say it took Juli a couple of years to come around. In fact, one evening as I walked around our local village of Long Eaton wrestling with my unrequited emotions, I sat down next to three lads having a pint outside a local pub. I didn't know these guys from Adam, but I had to talk to someone. I proceeded to share my girl problems and they patiently listened. Once I had regurgitated my sad story, I thanked them for their time and continued on my journey. I wonder if those fellas ever remind themselves of the time when they served as the advice column for a strange American chap? I sometimes remind Juli of what mental anguish she put me through.
Fast forward to 2012 and its been nearly 10 years since Juli and I were last in Nottingham. We've been to other parts of the UK since then and last May I actually passed Long Eaton on a train, but we've not had the chance to walk around, see the sights, hear the sounds, and smell the smells of the place where our relationship began. On Wednesday and Thursday of this week we'll have that opportunity as we travel to the East Midlands to visit a church that's involved in serving their community in some ways that we'd like to emulate here in Dublin. We're looking forward to learning a lot as well as seeing some familiar places and some familiar faces. - Shay
Monday, February 6, 2012
A Song for the Season
Do you ever feel like a song sums you up? I have and sometimes still do. Like most teenagers, I really loved music, but also like most people (I assume) I've spent less money and less time on music as I've gotten older. But when I'm in the mood, I'll let a song or several songs serve as the soundtrack to my life.
Over the past year, my favorite album has been The Impossible Song and Other Songs by Roddy Woomble. Roddy's the lead singer for a Scottish indie rock band called Idlewild. I've seen them play live 5 or 6 times and own all of their records. I once met Roddy at an independent record shop in Dallas. His band was playing an acoustic set in the store before opening for Pearl Jam later that evening. A few years back, Roddy began to release solo folk records in between Idlewild projects.
His latest effort is fantastic and here are the lyrics to one of those tunes, Work Like You Can.
Work Like You Can
You can catch a live performance of the song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZBs2OZ3MmM
- Shay
Over the past year, my favorite album has been The Impossible Song and Other Songs by Roddy Woomble. Roddy's the lead singer for a Scottish indie rock band called Idlewild. I've seen them play live 5 or 6 times and own all of their records. I once met Roddy at an independent record shop in Dallas. His band was playing an acoustic set in the store before opening for Pearl Jam later that evening. A few years back, Roddy began to release solo folk records in between Idlewild projects.
His latest effort is fantastic and here are the lyrics to one of those tunes, Work Like You Can.
Work Like You Can
Nothin’ll get lost if we work like we can
'Till the smell of the earth is warn into our hands
And I promise you somethin’ you’ll never get nowhere
If you only ask questions of love
Long ago people came to this town
To build their lives out of what they found
Now the times are ruined
And the dirt on the ground is mixed in with the ashes of love
Chorus:
And gather with others to work like you can
To live like you can
And gather with others to work like you can
To live like you can
You can keep your mouth shut better than I can
Accept and obey every law in this land
And when the wind blows your wages right out of your hands
You accept that the wind doesn’t blow around love
Repeat Chorus
In spite of, in spite of money, position, and power
All the important things I’m told we should be dreamin’ of
The seasons are fixed with the sun
Just like an old stone that will never be thrown
Soon the spring will come
Like a distant object of love
And the spring tides and neap tides
Bring a rhythm to the land
With the oil and the saw
We can work like we can
What you lack in ability you can gain pretty simply
Ignore the riches, the riches of love
You can catch a live performance of the song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZBs2OZ3MmM
- Shay
Thursday, January 12, 2012
What a man!
As we've just passed from the Christmas season into the New Year I've been thinking about the nature of the incarnation of Christ. I came across something I wrote 5 years ago and I'd like to share it now.
Most Christians don't have too much trouble coming to grips with Jesus' divinity. We read the gospels with the foreknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and we correctly see his earthly life and ministry through those lenses. Although we affirm the doctrine of the incarnation, the doctrine stating that God the Son became flesh in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, I believe many of us have a hard time truly grasping that when the Son emptied himself in becoming a man, he didn't exploit the fact that he was God (Philippians 2:5-7). That is to say, that in becoming man, Jesus did just that - he became a real life human being, just like you and me! When we affirm this fact, we have a tendency to counter it with statements like, "Well, he was no ordinary human being. He was the God-man." Yes, that's true, but in being the God-man, Jesus didn't exploit his divinity. He was the God-man with one armed tied behind his back so that he truly experienced life the way you and I live our lives. Consider the fact that though Jesus performed miracles, those miracles were always in the service of other people, not himself. The miracles may have proved who he ultimately was (the I AM incarnate), but they didn't make life any easier for him, but rather they made life better for those around him (signaling that the Kingdom of God was being ushered in through his life and ministry). Let's not forget the fact that Peter and the other apostles, not to mention many of the early "ordinary" Christians also were given the ability to do miraculous things through the power of the Holy Spirit in the service of others. We don't struggle in coming to grips with those individual's humanity.
Let's consider a passage from Matthew's gospel which clearly illustrates Jesus' humanity. In Matthew 26:36-46, Jesus takes his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. This is no ordinary prayer session, but a desperate plea from an emotionally drained, physically worn out man, who is literally carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. We sometimes assume that because Jesus was God, he sailed through this ordeal as if he were taking a leisurely stroll across the waters of Galilee. But notice his urgent plea to the disciples, "I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me." (26:38). Doesn't this remind you of the emotional state of the family who sits anxiously awaiting the word from the surgeon who's operating on a loved one in critical condition? Does it not remind you of the drained psyche of the man who's lost his wife and children to divorce? In the garden, Jesus experiences grief, pain, and fear all rolled into one. When his disciples fail to watch and pray with him, he feels abandonment as well. He falls on his face and cries out to his most intimate companion, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want...if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." (26:39 & 42).
Whether we feel comfortable admitting it or not, Jesus asks his Father to change his mind on this whole idea of crucifixion. Jesus asks the God who creates out of nothing, to create a less painful, less brutal, less traumatic means of atoning for and reconciling humanity. Jesus isn't just posturing here, he means these words. We have to assume that if the Father creates some alternative route, Jesus takes it. But despite the fact that Jesus is overwhelmed with sorrow, he wholeheartedly embraces the cup, accepting his Father's answer to his prayer - in this instance, the answer is no. In death, as in life, Jesus is completely obedient and submissive to the will of the Father. This doesn't make his sacrificial gift any less amazing, but more. As we see this Jesus, this man, fully embracing a life of selflessness and submission, how can we be anything other than grateful and humble?
Jesus, the exalted King at the right hand of the Father knows what it means to suffer. He knows what it's like to be emotionally drained and physically abused. He knows what it's like, whether in joy or in sorrow, to be human. As the writer of Hebrews makes abundantly clear, Jesus can empathize with us - he's been in our shoes.
What kind of God do we serve? What kind of God is so powerful and yet so humble? What kind of God says that it's not enough just to lovingly create us, but in fact takes our very humanity into his own eternal life and being? What kind of God doesn't just create us in his image, but takes on our image? What kind of God loves us so much that he gave and continues to give us his very own unique Son?
What kind of man exists as God, but doesn't exploit his divinity? What kind of man is able, and even more incredible, willing to take the weight of the world's sin onto his very own shoulders? What kind of man is abandoned by his closest friends, only to later accept them all back as if nothing had happened? What kind of man endures cruel torture and the worst kind of scorn and humiliation, only to beg God to forgive his tormentors? What kind of man, who while suffering on a cross, takes time to invite a petty thief into his kingdom? What kind of man would do all of this, not for his glory, but out of his sincere love? What kind of man? Jesus. - Shay
Most Christians don't have too much trouble coming to grips with Jesus' divinity. We read the gospels with the foreknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and we correctly see his earthly life and ministry through those lenses. Although we affirm the doctrine of the incarnation, the doctrine stating that God the Son became flesh in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, I believe many of us have a hard time truly grasping that when the Son emptied himself in becoming a man, he didn't exploit the fact that he was God (Philippians 2:5-7). That is to say, that in becoming man, Jesus did just that - he became a real life human being, just like you and me! When we affirm this fact, we have a tendency to counter it with statements like, "Well, he was no ordinary human being. He was the God-man." Yes, that's true, but in being the God-man, Jesus didn't exploit his divinity. He was the God-man with one armed tied behind his back so that he truly experienced life the way you and I live our lives. Consider the fact that though Jesus performed miracles, those miracles were always in the service of other people, not himself. The miracles may have proved who he ultimately was (the I AM incarnate), but they didn't make life any easier for him, but rather they made life better for those around him (signaling that the Kingdom of God was being ushered in through his life and ministry). Let's not forget the fact that Peter and the other apostles, not to mention many of the early "ordinary" Christians also were given the ability to do miraculous things through the power of the Holy Spirit in the service of others. We don't struggle in coming to grips with those individual's humanity.
Let's consider a passage from Matthew's gospel which clearly illustrates Jesus' humanity. In Matthew 26:36-46, Jesus takes his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. This is no ordinary prayer session, but a desperate plea from an emotionally drained, physically worn out man, who is literally carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. We sometimes assume that because Jesus was God, he sailed through this ordeal as if he were taking a leisurely stroll across the waters of Galilee. But notice his urgent plea to the disciples, "I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me." (26:38). Doesn't this remind you of the emotional state of the family who sits anxiously awaiting the word from the surgeon who's operating on a loved one in critical condition? Does it not remind you of the drained psyche of the man who's lost his wife and children to divorce? In the garden, Jesus experiences grief, pain, and fear all rolled into one. When his disciples fail to watch and pray with him, he feels abandonment as well. He falls on his face and cries out to his most intimate companion, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want...if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." (26:39 & 42).
Whether we feel comfortable admitting it or not, Jesus asks his Father to change his mind on this whole idea of crucifixion. Jesus asks the God who creates out of nothing, to create a less painful, less brutal, less traumatic means of atoning for and reconciling humanity. Jesus isn't just posturing here, he means these words. We have to assume that if the Father creates some alternative route, Jesus takes it. But despite the fact that Jesus is overwhelmed with sorrow, he wholeheartedly embraces the cup, accepting his Father's answer to his prayer - in this instance, the answer is no. In death, as in life, Jesus is completely obedient and submissive to the will of the Father. This doesn't make his sacrificial gift any less amazing, but more. As we see this Jesus, this man, fully embracing a life of selflessness and submission, how can we be anything other than grateful and humble?
Jesus, the exalted King at the right hand of the Father knows what it means to suffer. He knows what it's like to be emotionally drained and physically abused. He knows what it's like, whether in joy or in sorrow, to be human. As the writer of Hebrews makes abundantly clear, Jesus can empathize with us - he's been in our shoes.
What kind of God do we serve? What kind of God is so powerful and yet so humble? What kind of God says that it's not enough just to lovingly create us, but in fact takes our very humanity into his own eternal life and being? What kind of God doesn't just create us in his image, but takes on our image? What kind of God loves us so much that he gave and continues to give us his very own unique Son?
What kind of man exists as God, but doesn't exploit his divinity? What kind of man is able, and even more incredible, willing to take the weight of the world's sin onto his very own shoulders? What kind of man is abandoned by his closest friends, only to later accept them all back as if nothing had happened? What kind of man endures cruel torture and the worst kind of scorn and humiliation, only to beg God to forgive his tormentors? What kind of man, who while suffering on a cross, takes time to invite a petty thief into his kingdom? What kind of man would do all of this, not for his glory, but out of his sincere love? What kind of man? Jesus. - Shay
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)