2 Corinthains

Crushed, Pierced and Bruised (2 Corinthians 5:21)

/ The Pastor

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. [2 Corinthians 5:21]

Does seem fair, does it? To make Jesus know sin; the one who lived a sinless life in obedience to God. It doesn’t seem fair that God made Jesus experience the weigh and judgment of sin because are so stupid and unfaithful.

I am joyful and excited and exuberant, though,when I think about Jesus dying the cross and rising from the grave on the third day. I mean, what a show of grace. What a show of love. And so I repeat this refrain and give thanks that Jesus died and rose that our sins would be forgiven and that we may have the hope of the resurrection to eternal life. It all makes for great worship refrains.

But try this refrain on for size…

The sinless one
The obedient one
The glorious one
The kind one
The loving one
The forgiving one
The wise one

Took upon himself that which he did not deserve. Jesus took upon himself sin; something that he had not known except for the sinners he compassionately received and dined with and healed and forgave. Jesus took upon himself that which God hates; so much so, that God turned his back on His son as he hung on the cross dying:

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Or how about the prophet Isaiah’s description:
Surely he has born our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was CRUSHED (emphasis mine) for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5)

Oh, how I can’t imagine what that would be like; to be forsaken by God and to be crushed. But this is what Jesus did. He died for you. He rose from the grave for you. But Jesus was also forsaken for you that you may not be forsaken by God. Jesus was crushed for you that you may not be crushed by God.

Think about that for a moment and you too might think this sin-placed-on-Jesus-shoulders thing is unfair too. But praise be to God that he is “unfair” because if He were fair, we would certainly be forsaken and crushed for our iniquities.

So as you worship God this weekend; as you sing beautiful refrains of Jesus dying and rising for you; as you give thanks to God for His wonderful gift of grace; REALLY think about what Jesus did for you and let that crush your shallow perceptions of what Jesus means for sinners.

Jesus was crushed for you.
Jesus was bruised for you.
Jesus was forsaken for you.
Jesus was pierced for you.

Jesus has saved you! Alleluia!

Oh holy God, I can not comprehend what you have truly done for me through Jesus. I can not comprehend what Jesus went through for me. And, I can not comprehend why You would do such a thing for a sinner such as me. But I praise and worship Your holy name, oh God. May sinners run to You and receive this gift of life. Amen.

May God bless your day as you meditate on the cross of Christ.

The Pastor -|—

Comfort

/ The Pastor

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
[2 Corinthians 1:3-4]

Have you received comfort from God?
Then comfort others.

Have you received hope from God through Jesus Christ?
Then show that hope to others?

Have you found a peace that surpasses all understanding?
Then live peacefully with others.

Have you discovered true joy, even in the midst of sorrow, through the Gospel?
Then exude this joy for others to soak up.

Have you been forgiven through faith in Jesus Christ?
Then proclaim that forgiveness to others and…
…forgive as you have been forgiven.

Do you know God through Jesus Christ?
Then introduce others to Jesus.

This all seems like a no-brainer, because why not share this awesome news? Why not share peace and love and forgiveness with others? Why not share with others comfort when they are in need of comfort. And I am not talking about cliches like, “Everything will be all right” but rather a real hope that is grounded in something sure and certain.

But I don’t know how say this.

God does. So lift up your concerns to God and trust that the Holy Spirit will give you the right words, not cliches.

But how can I relate to someone who feels hopeless?

Share the hope you have through Jesus Christ. If death does not scare you, then why? Do you experience joy, then why? Do you know that your sins are forgiven, then say so and with confidence.

But this is easier said than done.

You’re right, when people are feeling hopeless or are suffering or are feeling despondent, it is difficult to know what to do. It can be nerve-wracking because you don’t want to mess things up. But think about the comfort you have through your faith in Jesus and then share that comfort with others.

There is no formula.
There are no magic words.

There is simply faith and trust in the one who has given you comfort in a world of discomfort. You know your faith. You know your hope. So live it for the sake of those who have no faith and for those who have no hope, but most of all…

…to the glory of God.

May you live in the comfort that God has given you through faith in Jesus. May you live in peace that can only come from the victory won through Calvary. May you live with a joy that radiates for all to see.

May God bless your day, in Jesus name, Amen!

The Pastor -|—

Going home

/ The Pastor

I have a Celebration of New Life service (a.k.a funeral) on Tuesday.  One the the scripture texts that the family choose is 2 Corinthians 4:16 – 5:8.  But the part that has caught my attention are verses 6 – 8 from chapter 5 which read as follows:  “Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.  We live by faith, and not by sight.  We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

Notice the two phrases that I have highlighted above.   Paul is not saying that while we are living in this body we are away from the Lord.  On the contrary…our Lord is with us 24/7.  But if we consider these bodies our “home” then we not living by faith but rather by sight.  And if that be the case, then one is indeed “away from the Lord“.

You see…our true home is not here but with the Lord.  This life is just a stopping off point not our true destination.  On the interstate of life, this is nothing more than an attraction off the interstate or a rest stop.  We are not meant to stay here but rather reach our final destination…home with the Lord.  And that destination is made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Funerals are never easy as we are caught between mourning our loved ones death and celebrating the New Life we have through Jesus Christ.  I will miss Cindy but I am also happy for her.

We live by faith, not by sight.

See you later, Cindy.

-edh-