“The chief priests and our rulers handed him over
to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was
the one who was going to redeem Israel.” – Luke 24:20-21
Steve, the pastor of University Baptist Church in Clear Lake, spoke about the resurrection story in Luke chapter 24 on Easter Sunday. Appropriate topic for the day, but the thing that got my attention was his emphasis on verses 20 and 21 – not the empty tomb. Israel had their hope in a coming Messiah who would solve their earthly problems. The most pressing being the occupation by and the oppression from the Roman empire. If Jesus was the Messiah, He had apparently failed in actualizing their expectation. The Romans has killed Him. Even if He was raised from the dead, apparently, He was not mightier that Rome. But defeating Rome was not why Jesus was sent by God the Father. It was for the purpose of spiritual restoration. Freeing a world enslaved by and oppressed by Sin. That was possible even if the Romans continued to occupy the land. Jesus came to set the captives free – but free from what? Not Rome, but free from sin and separation from the Father.
So what do you expect from the Messiah? What do you expect your new life in Christ to do for you? Are you satisfied with “mere” salvation? Is that enough for you? Is it enough if you still suffer from relational, financial, or physical hardship? If life doesn’t go your way. If God doesn’t intervene in your natural life. If you still suffer loss even though you prayed and asked others to pray to God so that might not happen. Is Jesus' resurrection and the salvation we find through faith in Him enough for you? Or, like the men walking to Emmaus, will you be disappointed in the Messiah, and in God the Father, because life didn’t go your way? The way that you thought it should.
We sing, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus and His righteousness… On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.” But really, is that what your hope is built upon? Or has your faith been subverted and made dependent upon your mortal circumstances? I am not suggesting that God will not intervene on your behalf, but I believe when and if He does it would be for His glory primarily and not your comfort and avoidance of the unpleasantries of this natural life.
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” – James 1:2-3
Steve’s sermon was a wakeup call for me. I was reminded of what Easter is really all about. Not financial security. Not avoidance of health problems. Not the mending of broken relationships. With the exception of one. Our, my, restoration to the Father through the sacrifice of the Son. The sermon caused me to think about what life through Jesus is all about.
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” – Romans 10:9-11
That is the reason we celebrate Easter.
Steve, the pastor of University Baptist Church in Clear Lake, spoke about the resurrection story in Luke chapter 24 on Easter Sunday. Appropriate topic for the day, but the thing that got my attention was his emphasis on verses 20 and 21 – not the empty tomb. Israel had their hope in a coming Messiah who would solve their earthly problems. The most pressing being the occupation by and the oppression from the Roman empire. If Jesus was the Messiah, He had apparently failed in actualizing their expectation. The Romans has killed Him. Even if He was raised from the dead, apparently, He was not mightier that Rome. But defeating Rome was not why Jesus was sent by God the Father. It was for the purpose of spiritual restoration. Freeing a world enslaved by and oppressed by Sin. That was possible even if the Romans continued to occupy the land. Jesus came to set the captives free – but free from what? Not Rome, but free from sin and separation from the Father.
So what do you expect from the Messiah? What do you expect your new life in Christ to do for you? Are you satisfied with “mere” salvation? Is that enough for you? Is it enough if you still suffer from relational, financial, or physical hardship? If life doesn’t go your way. If God doesn’t intervene in your natural life. If you still suffer loss even though you prayed and asked others to pray to God so that might not happen. Is Jesus' resurrection and the salvation we find through faith in Him enough for you? Or, like the men walking to Emmaus, will you be disappointed in the Messiah, and in God the Father, because life didn’t go your way? The way that you thought it should.
We sing, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus and His righteousness… On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.” But really, is that what your hope is built upon? Or has your faith been subverted and made dependent upon your mortal circumstances? I am not suggesting that God will not intervene on your behalf, but I believe when and if He does it would be for His glory primarily and not your comfort and avoidance of the unpleasantries of this natural life.
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” – James 1:2-3
Steve’s sermon was a wakeup call for me. I was reminded of what Easter is really all about. Not financial security. Not avoidance of health problems. Not the mending of broken relationships. With the exception of one. Our, my, restoration to the Father through the sacrifice of the Son. The sermon caused me to think about what life through Jesus is all about.
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” – Romans 10:9-11
That is the reason we celebrate Easter.
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