He Provides
Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and from our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Why does God refuse to act like us? After all, He came in
human flesh. Why become a Man only to refuse to do things the way we do them?
Why must He always be so obstinate, so steadfast? Why must He turn everything
on its head? There are so many other ways—ways that seem more reasonable—for
Him to act and to save. For one thing, He could make some distinction between
people, the way we do, liking some and disliking others. Who among us doesn’t
love our families and hate our enemies? Or do you have the same affection for ISIS as you have for your family?
Or God could choose to save only those who mean well or try
hard or make some effort. It is not that they’d have to be perfect. But they’d
have to have something that set them apart. He could save those who were
somehow marginally better than others, in an outward way: those who haven’t
gotten divorced or filed for bankruptcy or called in sick when they weren’t. Or
He could save those who are willing to come to Church, to serve on committees,
who give money to the poor. Wouldn’t that be more just?
Repent. These are old blasphemies. It is the Kingdom of God that comes in the Man Jesus Christ;
it is not your kingdom. That is to say, the Kingdom is within you, but it is
not yours to rule. It is a mystery, foolish to the ways and thinking of men. Jesus
is far wiser, kinder, gentler, and more gracious than you are. Still, if a man
wants to go to hell, if he wants to be judged by his works and faith, if he
wants a god like Mohammed or the image in the mirror, then he can go where that
god rules.
It is a strange and almost unimaginable thing, but He takes
the time with the deaf man because He loves the deaf man. Before Jesus meets
the man, the Father has already counted every hair on his head. He has listened
to and answered his prayers. We might speculate about how else He might have
healed this man, but what we know is that He did it the best way, the way best
for that man and for us. His actions are not accidental. He reveals something
of Himself and of our fallen nature and our needs.
He came to be a sacrifice, to die for your sins. And to
make sure that was complete, that there would be no doubt, that you would not
fear you were left out or weren’t good enough, He went ahead and died for
everyone, even for those who will not have Him, who insist on their own way,
who choose the broad road to hell. He pays for everyone so that you would be
His, so that you would be brought home. He reconciles all humanity to the
Father. He submits to the devil’s cruel torture so that you would be spared, so
that you would not face the accusations of your sins. He declares you to be His
perfect, spotless, lovely Bride, the beloved of the Father.
And He has not stopped. He did not simply come to earth and
preach a while, allow Himself to be killed as a Substitute, and then rise up
the Victor, only to go and leave you to try to follow Him. He is still a Man. He is still flesh
of our flesh. And He still comes to you to open your ears, to touch your
tongue. He is still wiser than us. He is still making custom crosses and situations
for you. He is still chastening and encouraging, speaking and hearing.
He knows what is best. He provides. He is here. He is
constant, faithful, steadfast, present in His Body and Blood, so that you would
be joined to Him, so that with ears you may hear Him and with your tongue you
may savor Him. And then, with the grace of His body and blood still upon your lips,
you will confess His name and sing His praise, for, indeed, He does all things
well. In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.
The peace of God which passes all
understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always. Amen.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment