Why did Jesus have to die (Good Friday 2019)

When I think about Good Friday I cant help but think about atonement theory. The word atonement means "a reparation for a wrong or injury." So what atonement theories try to do is answer the question: "What happened on the cross?" or a better way to say it would be "What did the cross accomplish?"

A common (at least in the West) atonement theory is Penal substitution. This view believes that God gave himself in the person of his Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer the death, punishment and curse due to fallen humanity as the penalty for our sin. This all sounds good but what is it really teaching? 

(PS: I believe one can hold this view of atonement and have a healthy understanding of God.)

The problem with this view is it often pits God vs Jesus. This view believe that God is Holy. God is set apart. He cannot look upon sin. Maybe even is he mad because of sin. Sometimes people emphasis the "Wrath of God." In other words, God looks at humanity with a big disappointed. He shakes is head or maybe worst. He is pissed. He is mad. But we have Jesus right? He is the good guy who is referred to as the scapegoat. He is perfect so he is able to take on our sins AND appease the wrath of God.


What upsets me the most about this view is the character of God. Is God mad at Jesus? Is he or was he mad at me? The answer has to be NO! He is love. He created us out of love and to be loved by him. This view of atonement is incomplete.... So why did Jesus have to die?


A New Way of Thinking about the cross.

Okay. So this way is not really that new but us in the West it is. This atonement theory is called "Christus Victor" which is Latin for "Christ the Victor."

What I like most about this view is it NEVER pits Jesus vs God. The goal of the cross IS NOT to appease a wrathful God but for Jesus to win the war against sin, death, and Satan. God has never been mad at you or Jesus. In fact, God says these words to Jesus at his baptism, "This is my dearly loved son, who brings me great joy."


Is this in the Bible?

"He (God) cancelled the record of the chargers against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross."- Colossians 2:14-15

A Metaphor 

Imgaine God is a fisherman, Satan is the fish, and Jesus is the bait.

On Good Friday, Jesus willingly become the bait. He willingly died. Satan assumed he had won. But did not have the wisdom to understand what was going on. Jesus' death on the cross defeated death forever! He showed he had the power over death and the grave when he rose from the grave on Sunday.

The cross didn't change God's mind about us but it should change our mind about him. It reveals what God has always been like. He has always been a Good Shepherd that was willing to lie down his life for his sheep.


Then how should we live?

The Cross should bring us hope. The cross reminds us that Good Friday is never the end. Sunday is always a few days away. We are to endure and grow in the process when faced with difficulties.

The Cross should make us thankful. We should be people that are thankful to God for willing to lie down his life for us.

The Cross should make us forgiving people. As CS Lewis said: "To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable in others because Christ has forgiven the inexcusable in you."



So back to the original question: Why did Jesus have to die?  The purpose of the cross was not to appease a wrathful God but for Jesus to win the war against sin, death, and Satan. 


I hope you received something good from this blog and that you are having a wonderful Easter Weekend! Blessings!

Come Home

Jesus told some pretty remarkable stories.

A guy named Luke chose to put three similar stories together in what we today call Luke Chapter 15. Of course the Bible had no chapters when it was written but still these stories were closely connected so Luke, as a good author, put them back-to-back-to-back. 

The first is about a lost coin being found. 

The second is about a lost sheep being found. 

And the final is about a lost son (well two) being found. 

All three stories tell of the greatness of God but for now I will focus my attention on the third of the three stories. 

You might have heard of this story (or parable) as the "Parable of the Prodigal Son"

The word "Prodigal" means "spending money or resources freely and recklessly." Others have called this story the "Parable of the Lost Son." but that just doesn't sound as cool. 

This story was told as two groups listened:

1) The Pharisees. The religious. The law keepers. Those who believed they were right with God based on their merit and looked down on those who could not or would not abide to God's and their systems. 

and on the other side.....

2) The sinners. The tax collectors. Those that have either separated themselves or been separated from the Jewish community. They believed they have done too much to be welcomed back and honestly why would they want to follow the God that the Pharisees believed in????

So that's the OG (original) audience. Yes, we can hear the words and we can learn but what was he teaching them first? We will come back to this question.....

Summary of the Parable 

A king had two sons.

One day the younger son told his father that he wanted his share of the estate. Of course he couldnt go to the bank because his property and livestock was his money. 

What an ask!???

But the shocking part of the story is the Father does it. He gives his younger son his inheritance and watches him leave. 

This prodigal son has the time of his life in which Luke calls "wild living." One can only imagine. Drugs, sex, and rock and roll (okay maybe not rock and roll) but you get the picture. And he had friends to enjoy this money with him..... but......

One day the money ran out and so did his "friends." 

This nameless son begins to grow hungry and needs to find a job. The only job he could find was involved feeding pigs on his hands and knees in the mud..... but.....

He comes to "his senses." Luke tells us that he comes up with a plan to go back and work for his father "After all his father's slaves eat better than this!!!!" So he gets ready to go back. He makes the hike and he prepares his speech. 

But while he was a while off he sees his Father running. Men didn't run in this culture. Women ran. Kids ran. But men, especially kings, did not run. Was he mad? "Of course, he was" thought the son. 

"I am dead"

Yet that's not how this story goes..... The Father in a remarkable, unpredictable move..... welcomes the son back into the family. Furthermore, he decides to throw a feast for his son "because he was lost but is now found."

Don't forget: there is an older son. 

The Son who had been working for his father ALL THESE YEARS. 

In fact, when the party starts the older son is still in the field WORKING! The father notices that his older son is not at the party so he LEAVES the party.... and asks his son to come back in.

And just like the Sopranos, we are left without an answer.

Back to the OG audience

Who was Jesus telling this story to. Before we can across the bridge into our culture we must understand with whom Jesus is speaking. 

Do you remember the sinners, the tax collectors, those excluded from the community of faith...... They are represented by the younger son. 

Do you remember the Pharisees, the religious, those in but are only in because they did the right things..... They are represented by the older son...

Jesus: The great story teller

We like to focus on the younger son because its obvious sin. Its obvious rebellion. Running away from the Father but both those on his left and those on his right were "lost" in God's sight. 

What do I mean by lost? I mean they don't know who they are. They don't know they are truly loved by a God who doesn't need their love. But a God who is like the King in this story. This King reckless or a Prodigal-like fashion gives his love expecting NOTHING in return. 

But we don't like this kind of God. He doesn't fit within our system and it is hard to CONTROL people when you love them. 

What if the Son had a different brother....

The more I study this story the more I get mad at the older brother...... Are you kidding me? Why didn't he go after him?

If you have a moment read the first two stories in this chapter (The Lost coin and the lost sheep). In both of those chapters..... SOMEONE goes after them. 

Of course a coin is not looking but can a coin find itself? No

Can a sheep? no. They are not much smarter than a coin. 

Yet the woman looks and rejoices when she finds her lost coin. 

And the Shepherd was willing to leave 99 to find his 1 lost sheep. 

But who goes after this son..........

IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE OLDER BROTHER!!!!! But unfortunately for this younger son he didn't receive a good older brother. 

This story is meant to make us long for a good older brother..... of course we know we have one. His name is Jesus. 

He left the comfort of Heaven to welcome us in our rebellious nature back home. 

Our choice

Do you find yourself rebelling, acting out? Like the younger son?---- You are welcomed home. 

You are welcomed into God's family. He loves you. 

Do you find yourself obeying, toeing the line, doing good so you are accepting? Like the older son?- You are welcomed too! Join the party! You are loved by God and you don't have to obey to be loved by him because you are already FULLY accepted. 

I don't know where you find yourself in this season of life but I hope you know that Jesus is the best OLDER SON ever and that he loved and loves you fully. Because when we dont have the pressure to act out or the pressure to toe the line we can truly live in the moment as children of God. 

Life sucks then you die

Where do you turn when the good, bad, or ugly happens in your life?

Maybe you celebrate with a friend that you got that promotion over drinks? 

Maybe you vent to your cat about how unfair life can be?

Maybe you post on social media looking for reassurance and confirmation bias that your position is the "right" one?

Maybe you run to alcohol, drugs, or the like?

But the sad reality is we tend to run to the wrong things. Maybe we turn on the TV and listen to an inspiring televangelists and  feel good for a moment. But it's like eating something really bad for you. It feels good right then but later that night your stomach is not happy with you. We consume so many things looking for happiness, pleasure, and meaning but in the words of Rolling Stones, "we can't get no satisfaction"

Psalm 74 

This Psalm is inscribed by Asaph which Bible scholars believe was a "seer", a friend of David, and a man from the tribe of Levi. He would lead the singing and so we can view his words as a general cry of the people group of the time. 

How life is "suppose to go"

General wisdom of the day and wisdom that many of us assume to be true today is 

Good actions--- Good people---- Good life

Bad actions---- Bad people---- Bad life.

We assume, we are conditioned, we are taught, that if there is a bad action that there must be a consequence. This can happen right now or in the "age to come." 

But the wisdom literature found in the Bible does not agree with this reality. Ask Job how "fair" life is. Ask the writer of Ecclesiates (maybe Solomon) if there is any meaning to life. Ask any Jew if life is fair in light of the Holocaust. Or maybe ask Jesus is he receive just treatment going to the cross?

I could go on and on. Is it fair that many children in the world go hungry? Is it fair that young women get sold into sex slavery? Of course not. 

What is fair?

A common theme throughout the Psalms is wondering why the wicked prosper. 

"For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. They don't have troubles like other people; they're not plagued with problems like everyone else."- (Psalm 73:3-5)

Of course everyone has issues but here the Psalmist is jealous because it appears that someone that ISNT following God is having a better life than him. 

Hopelessness 

"Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain"- (Psalm 73:13-14)

Have you ever gotten to the point of hopelessness. What is the point? Things will never change. Things will never get better.

Judgement 

This hopelessness can lead to evil thoughts. 

"Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff of destruction. In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors. When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning."- Psalm 73:18-20

So what?

Unfortunately, this is where many of us end the story. We get to a point of hopelessness and judgement and there is no turning back. We divide people into groups. Saying these are the good people while THEY are the bad people. 

We go to work, eat dinner, go to bed and repeat. We lose hope. We lose vision. And life has no purpose.

But......

What if we confessed?

Ya, I said it..... Maybe we are lying to ourselves. Maybe we have unrealistic expectations of current events that they blind our minds to the work of the Holy Spirit on this earth. 

And to be honest, Im somewhere on this journey, depending on the day. I get upset because things haven't gone my way (personally) and I see so much injustice. How could God let someone like Trump be our president? I know God doesn't pick presidents, we do! But still..... why let a wicked person prosper?

Maybe you don't do things on a national level but something happens in your life and you cry out..."God WHY DIDN'T YOU STOP THIS from happening?" Don't you care?

But..... when we pray these prayers we are acting as if we are God. And you aren't and I am not. And thank goodness for that! Right? 

Let's finish the Psalm 

"Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant--- I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. "- Psalm 73:21-25

I love this prayer/song to God. He confessed that he was bitter in how he treated others but still remembered that he belongs to God. This is important that as we confessed our actions and perceptions of the world over to God that in the end we BELONG. We are his children. Just because we haven't gotten it yet does not mean we are not included at the dinner table. 

He holds our hand and helps us walk on the right path. 

Let's continue....

"My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you. But as for me, how good it is to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do."- Psalm 73:26-28 

Life sucks?

Sometimes. Sometimes life sucks because we are stupid or because of the nature of free will. We read that even our health may fail (which we hate to think about as humans) but God remains the strength of our heart. 

A simple solution 

1) Don't be bitter when things don't go your way. 

2) Remember you belong to God. 

3) Remember God is with you. 

My son is almost 2 (his birthday is in April). He in our little explorer. There are moments when he just needs to run around and have freedom but there are other times when I need to hold his hand or carry him depending on where we are. 

Do you know that God is the perfect father/mother. He protects us. There are times when Neil loves to hold my hand but there are times when he would rather be free. I know (or at least I think I do) when he can roam freely and when it would be better for me to hold his hand/carry him. 

I think God is similar to that. 

But do we trust Him? Do we trust Him when life is good? Do we draw near to God when life is bad or even ugly?

This is a journey and it looks differently for everyone but I just want to challenge you to spend time in the presence of God. Spend time worshipping him with music and through reading the Bible. But also throughout the day.

New Year, New Me?

We are in the awkward time of year between Christmas and New Years where no one truly knows what day it is and what to do with themselves. So we reflect. We look back at the previous year and ask "Was it good enough?" Which leads us to the next question: "Was I good enough?"

If we answer.... yes 

We boast. Saying I am Awesome! Look at what I DID! Its all about ME ME ME. 

If we answer... no. 

We fall into self-pity. I suck. I need to do better. Look at What I DID! and its still about ME ME ME. 

Is Change bad?

Of course not! That is silly. I am 100% in favor of reflecting back on my previous year and trying to put into practice good habits like running more often and reading more often into my daily life. 

But.....

Our identity, who we are, can not be tied to what we do. At least, as a Christian, that is how I view the world. If who I am is based on my feelings, my ability to be disciplined, and my self improvement I am in trouble. Some days I am killing it. I am awesome. I am motivated! I want to run. I want to read. I want to contribute to my family. I want to be all that God has created me to be. But.... other days I don't want to get out of bed. But I do. Because well, I have to. 

So who am I?

Who are you?

Our identity must be tied to who we belong to. Just like my son does not need to do anything to receive my praise (Though I enjoy watching him learn and grow) we do not need to do anything to "earn" the praise of our eternal Father. 

You ARE A CHILD OF GOD! AND as a Child He LOVES YOU! He ACCEPTS YOU!

He loves you just like you are!

New Year, New Me?

I love that my son is starting to develop his words. When he says, "dad" it makes my heart melt. His newest word is "Blue" but he cant get the "L" so it sounds more like "Boo." It is incredible watching the development of a child. 

And I think God looks at us the same way. He sees each step of our journey with joy. He loves to see us develop, to change, to grow. 

So as you make your resolutions remember 3 things. 

1) God loves you just the way you are! You don't need to change to be loved.

2) Change is good but quick fixes are not. Make good habits that will last past Feb 1st. 

3) Dont just look at the physical. What are spiritual changes you can make? Are there ways you can improve your emotional and spiritual well-being? How can you focus on God's presence this new year! 

Finally.....

Wishing each and every one of you a happy and safe New Year in 2019. Its a chance to start a fresh. Don't take it day for granted but enjoy each moment as a gift from God. 

 

Mary vs Zechariah

Is God okay with your questions?

Today I want to look at 2 questions both found early on in Luke's Gospel. Both of these questions involve child birth. 

You see, 2000 years ago having a baby was a big deal. Well, i guess it still is but people believed if you didnt have a child it meant you were cursed by God. Maybe you did something wrong or maybe God just didn't like you. Regardless, it was not okay. 

First----Zechariah. 

Zechariah and Elizabeth wanted a baby. Elizabeth was past child-bearing age but still wanted an offspring. It came time for Zechariah to serve the Lord in the temple. 

Here are the words that Gabriel brings to Zechariah- 

"But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth."

Yet Zechariah wasn't so sure.....“How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

Second- Mary 

Mary was a teenager. We don't know her exact age but we know she was old enough to be engaged in the her First Century Jewish Culture. 

To Mary Gabriel said, "Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

Yet Mary also had a question-  “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”



Mary vs Zechariah 

Both Mary and Zechariah had questions. 

But They were very different questions- Look closer. 

Zechariah wanted certainty. Certainty according to Peter Enns is a Sin. If we are certain of something we no longer need God because we have it all figured out. Because certainty breeds pride. 

Because Zechariah wanted certainty Gabriel made it so he could no longer talk until his son would be born. 

Mary's question was not filled with doubt. She was a virgin. Virigin's cant give birth. It's impossible. It would take a miracle. 

The angel declares to her.... "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you."  

In other words God is going to do something big he just needs you to trust......

We can tell Mary's question was about searching more because she responded in faith, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true."


Conclusion 

Questions are good. Jesus asked many questions. God can handle our questions.

But Questions must be asked in a child-like manner and not in a way that we seek to figure it all out.

I pray you can come to God with all your questions and pain. I pray you can come to him as a child comes to his/her father to not get something but to get someone.

May you know that God loves you and wants to hear from you today. Seek him in prayer. Amen.

Jesus Glasses

There is a strange miracle found in the Gospel of Mark.

"So He (Jesus) took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then He spit on the man’s eyes and placed His hands on him. “Can you see anything?” He asked. 24The man looked up and said, “I can see the people, but they look like trees walking around.” 25Once again Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes, and when he opened them his sight was restored, and he could see everything clearly."


What a strange little story. 

Why Spit?

Some scholars actually believe that people of the 1st Century held a belief that healing could happen through spit. Weird? So Jesus plays along. He takes this blind man by the hand and leads him away from the crowd. Jesus often did this. He was not doing a miracle for self-promotion. 

Yet when he prayed it only worked 50% of the way.... C'mon Jesus!

Have you ever wondered why? Did Jesus do something wrong? Did this man lack faith?

No.

I think Jesus is trying to teach us something about spiritual blindness. We like to talk about transformation with Jesus but the truth is it is a long slow process. We think about believing, we start to believe, and then we go even deeper. And to be honest growth is far from linear. Work with kids for more than a week and you learn that lesson. 

As Jesus heals this man, imagine what might be going through his mind. One question he might ask..... "What do people look like?"


Like Trees, right?

How did he even know what trees looked like if he was blind?


So what can we learn from this story?

I wonder if Jesus wants to heal your/our eyes today. I wonder if he wants to take us to a remote location for a touch from his spirit? You see, we like to have a tribe mentality. This person is in MY GROUP and that person IS NOT! This person is on MY TEAM and that person is NOT! This person is a GOOD PERSON and that person is NOT!

I wonder if people are more complicated than that. Anne Frank said/wrote it like this: 

"In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart." 


The problem the Christian must encounter daily is to love everyone. Yes, sounds easy. But it is a problem because we cannot claim to know God and not love. Because as ST John says, "God is love."

I believe God wants to heal our eyes. To look at those that we think are our enemies and welcome them into our presence.

St Paul said it this way: "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus."

So today, put on your "Jesus glasses." Try to see people the way He saw them. Because when we see people how He saw them we will treat people the way he treated them. 

Do It Again

Have you ever noticed, kids can watch the same movie, read the same book, or play the same game every day and not get tired of it? We say: "Ugh, baby shark, again????!???"

They rejoice: "Do it again!"

I wonder if God is "child-like."

Each morning he declares to the sun, "Do it again!"

And when the sun sets he declares, "Do it AGAIN!" Oh, I just love the sunset.

Jesus told Nicodemus we must be "Born again" to enter the Kingdom of God. In other words we must learn to let go of control. We must give up our right to have everything figured out and trust in God.

Yet, we worry about so many things. Meanwhile God is smiling. As He speaks the wind and waves obey. Chaos is a result of us thinking control is necessary.

Jesus said it this way: "If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it."

May you have the faith of a child today. May you find peace in the journey and freedom in the surrender.