God’s Story Is Our Story: From Genesis To JesusSample

 Reflecting on the last week: What does it mean that Jesus was the Messiah (same word as “Christ”)? Few Jews in Jesus’ day agreed about every detail of God’s promised Messiah. Some thought there would be one. Some thought two. Some thought he would be a priest. Others a prophet. Still others, a king. But most Jews agreed that when the Messiah reigned, God would judge heaven and earth. The nations would pay for their mistreatment of Israel, and Israel would rule over them all. Few Jews, however, expected a Messiah who planned to suffer and die. They read about God’s suffering servant in Isaiah, but never thought that figure was the Messiah. But Jesus, God’s true Messiah, was exactly that sort of figure. An otherworldly figure. His authority was otherworldly. He did not exercise it by violently lording himself over others as the Romans did. Instead, he exercised it by dying under Roman violence. He refused to capitulate to their redefinition of good and evil. Instead, he inaugurated the reign of God, but ruling as God rules: serving, giving, dying for the sake of others. Do we want authority? Jesus invites us to take up our cross and die—that is the path to true power. His peace was otherworldly. Rome created a kind of peace by violently snuffing any hint of sedition and rebellion. Jesus made peace by rising from the dead. He opened the doorway from death into everlasting, resurrected life in new creation. Do we want this peace? Then Jesus invites us to take up our cross and die with him, thereby finding our lives in him. What is your cross? Jesus offers the courage you need to take it up. He offers the grace you need to see its beauty. So pick it up with joy and know that the path to power, peace and life is cross-shaped.