Life Matters - April 16, 2025
Approximately 2000 years ago, a small group of ladies made their hushed way along a garden path to a wealthy man’s sepulcher wherein lay the wealthiest man, by far, to ever walk as men walk on this earth. This wealthiest of all men lived as a poor man lives and as he related to the rich of this world the same way as to the poor, and to the religious the same way as to the irreligious, he awoke the wonder, then the ire, of the worldliest of the rich, powerful, and religious.
Initially embracing his message, these rich and powerful religious leaders at first invited him to preach in their synagogues, in one of which he preached that stirring message based on Isaiah chapter 61, ‘’The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.’’ (Luke chapter 4) and then ‘’This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.’’
The man and the sermon were riveting and the eyes of all the congregation were ‘’fastened on him.’’ Dormant thoughts and feelings were awakening, connecting with the gracious words and holy presence of this man who spoke nourishment to their spiritual hunger, water to their thirsty souls, reviving their souls out of deadness with a fresh flow of spiritual life. Problems were as nothing to this man. Broken hearts could be healed. Even smoke where he wanted fire was seen as a hopeful, encouraging sign. Bruises were not permanent, he was not here to ‘finish the job’ of breaking.
But they refused to hear, indeed, became violent when he spoke of their need. Only divine intervention spared his life. His time had not yet come. Adhering to his purpose eventually culminated in the last three words he spoke as a man, ‘’It is finished!’’ That those words were spoken from a place of Roman capital punishment, a crude wooden cross, has a backstory that is at once fascinating, captivating, excruciatingly horrible, and exhilaratingly wonderful.
It has been fascinating, captivating, horrifying, and exhilarating the population of this globe now for almost 2000 years. But not all believe. Many, if not most, still persist in unbelief; ‘’…for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.’’ (Hebrews 11:6)
Much like loving people on this spinning orb, to love and believe God is to become vulnerable. And many withdraw, shrink back into unbelief. Is this not the temptation to us all? To refuse the short-term pain, and with it, the long-term gain. We must prepare for rough waters, even as one U.S. President put it, ‘’A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.’’ Is shrinking back not caused by a lack of trust in the final outcome? And so, is it not a mistrust of God and his Word? Who then shall we trust? Those who never embark will never arrive.
The religious leaders who turned against Jesus had the advantage of a long line of faithful forefathers, most notably Abraham and Moses, of whom they loved to remind each other and in whom they trusted. (John 8:39 - 9:28) There were also many unfaithful in the lineage, of whom they did not like to be reminded, as evidenced a number of times in the Gospels and Acts of the Apostles. “We are Abraham’s children” they vehemently reminded Jesus when he confronted them about who they were relying upon.
They trusted in themselves that they were righteous (Matthew chapter 23) desired the praise of men (verse 7) and were covetous. (verses 14-25) They had become quite settled into their comfortable lives and wanted to keep it that way. Can we not identify? In their desire to keep the status quo, or better, the Truth and Gospel of their Messiah was lost on them. They heard astounding and confounding words, they saw miracles, but their misplaced trust closed their spiritual eyes. What they saw was a carpenter’s son. What they heard was ripping into the heart of misplaced trust. Can we identify? May we hear the Truth and our ultimate identity become, or remain, as Galatians 2:19-20.
In the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, the Jewish leaders accepted him and his message, even asking him to speak in their synagogues on the Sabbath. But as he failed to accept, even refused and disdained their system of misplaced trust and righteousness, the seeds of hatred were sown in their hearts by the enemy of our souls, were watered by the talk among themselves, withstood the judgements of Matthew 23 and bloomed into a howling, demanding mob by the time they had him corralled and ‘judged’ one fateful, history-shaking and prophecy-fulfilling night.
When Jesus was nailed to the cross the meaning of his last words before his body expired were lost on the self-righteous unless they later repented. ‘’It is finished’’ was not understood, at least not fully so, by his disciples. They had trusted this to be the Deliverer to free Israel from Roman rule and restore the kingdom again to those who would bring about an Old Testament revival. They did not yet comprehend the New Covenant.
Hence this small group of ladies making their subdued but purposeful way along the early-morning sunrise-lightened garden path to properly anoint a dead body, wondering among themselves how they could possibly roll the heavy stone away from the tomb entrance. They were still in the short-term pain that was soon to burst open into the vista of long-term (eternal) gain. What they discovered was a rolled away stone and an empty tomb! A heavenly messenger informed them, ‘’He is risen!’’
The next Person they met was Jesus!
His disciples discovered that the lowly ‘carpenter’s son’ is our King and our God! His wealth is unlimited, including the universe, planets and galaxies, besides the realm into which we cannot see! Yet. ‘’Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit, for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.’’ (I Corinthians chapter 2)
‘’It is finished!’’ Hidden to physical eyes, ears, and hearts, this revelation transports the soul into the spiritual realm where Jesus satisfies the hungry, thirsty, longing soul, which is the spiritual heart wherein eternity resides.
By God’s Word and Holy Spirit we believe. By God’s Holy Spirit we see the empty tomb of our soul’s need. By God’s Holy Spirit we meet Jesus. It is by God’s Holy Spirit we understand our need and discover that Jesus, indeed, Lives!
Life Matters!