PTM WEEKLY UPDATE -- MARCH 17, 2008
The Oscars and Easter
Do you remember Jesus' story about two builders? Two men construct houses, one building on a foundation of rock while the other builds on sand. The predictable result is that the house constructed on sand crumbles during the storms of adversity while the house built on a rock withstands the pressures exerted by our world (Matthew7:24-27).Two contrasting events that happen about this time every year remind me of the parable of the two builders. It seems to me that the Academy Awards is an example of a house built on sand. Every spring we see or hear about an ego-centered parade of "beautiful people" whose lives seem dedicated to presenting themselves as something they aren't. It's the epitome of human folly and even idolatry -- "stars" who make more money than the Gross National Product of some small third world countries.
The awarding of Oscars is a festival of flesh -- flesh that has been cosmetically nipped, tucked, enlarged and minimized to present just the "right" external appearance. It's an orgy glamorizing what people look like, as opposed to what they believe and value. Many of the stars of the film industry, whose cosmetically enhanced faces and bodies flash across the television screen, are dead men and dead women walking -- people who are spiritually empty while experiencing physical luxuries far beyond what those watching will ever enjoy in this life.
What an irony that Hollywood's annual celebration of its stars is in the spring, usually a few weeks before the central event and foundation stone for all Christians -- Resurrection Sunday -- where every year, Jesus Christ wins all the awards as our Lord and Savior.
What an irony that Hollywood's annual celebration of its stars is in the spring, usually a few weeks before the central event and foundation stone for all Christians! Easter Sunday is the annual Spiritual Academy Awards. Here is a spiritual house built on a rock -- the Rock of Jesus Christ. Every year at the Spiritual Academy Awards, Jesus Christ wins all the awards as our Lord and Savior. As the selfless Lamb of God who gave himself that we might live, Jesus wins. Jesus wins, because though he was rich, he became poor that we might be given the riches of God’s grace.
Every year we are reminded that Jesus has done many things that no one has ever done or ever will do -- the most dramatic and earth-shaking being the fact that his grave is not occupied. No other dead body has been resurrected to eternal life -- yet. Every year we are reminded that Easter is all about Jesus Christ. He is in the spotlight. He alone is worthy of our attention, worship and reverence. Every year we are reminded that eternal life, the ultimate reality, is all about what he has done and is doing -- not about what we have done, are doing or must do.
Jesus’ resurrection:
• Helps us realize what is and what is not important.
• Gives us vision, perspective and a sense of direction.
• Affirms that Jesus is alive, living that we might live eternally.
• Teaches us that our salvation has been won on the cross.
• Assures us about the future resurrection of our bodies.
• Transforms our worries and woes into hope and victory.
• Provides us with the Rock upon which our faith is built.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ changes us from slaves of sin into prisoners of hope. Because of what Jesus has done, we are released from bondage to corruption, addiction, misery and heartache. As the Captain of our salvation, Jesus leads us out of slavery into a new life of hope and freedom.
The message of Easter is that Jesus Christ is Lord of all. He can do anything. He has triumphed over death and the grave, he lives now that we might have new life, and upon his return we will be resurrected with immortal and incorruptible bodies. This pivotal event of Jesus' resurrection restores and confirms all of our hopes and dreams. After all, what could have been more depressing and discouraging for the disciples than the death of Jesus on the cross? Jesus -- the One who they thought was the Messiah, the One who was going to save them -- but he was dead on the cross. His lifeless body was displayed for all to see, an apparent vindication for all who opposed him. Whether his foes were the religious leaders or the military powers, at that moment they seemed to have the victory. For the disciples, all hope was lost.
Easter Sunday tells us that no situation is hopeless. God can take the worst possible defeat and turn it into overwhelming victory. God comforts the brokenhearted, he heals the sick, he takes our weaknesses and gives us strength. God accepts our sins in all their vile corruption and evil ugliness and turns them, by his grace, into righteousness, holiness and new life.
After Jesus was crucified and buried, eleven desperate, terrified men huddled in the locked upper room. Their Messiah, their Teacher, their Savior was dead. They were surrounded by enemies. All hope was gone. They lived in desperate fear. A few days later the scene completely changed. The upper room was filled with joy and laughter. Singing filled the air. They could not stop talking about the miracle of the Resurrection. They wanted to go and tell the world about it and they did! One event changed them -- Easter Sunday.
Shortly before his death and resurrection, Jesus told his disciples that the world would know and identify his disciples because his love would live within them (John 13:35). God's love is the identifying mark and sign of Christians. Jesus came into the world because of love, and he gave himself voluntarily, as a sacrifice for sin on our behalf, because of his love for us. Because Jesus is alive his love is alive within us, giving us hope for tomorrow.
Jesus constantly demonstrated his love for his disciples while he was with them during his physical ministry here on earth. He showed them love by calling them out of their lives and occupations to be the leaders of the church he would found. He stayed with them through thick and thin. Though they failed he encouraged them, though they betrayed him he remained loyal to them. When the disciples cowered in fear, Jesus remained patient. When the disciples displayed raw emotions of greed and selfishness, Jesus remained steadfast in his love for them.
As the last week of Jesus' life approached, he continued to demonstrate his love for his disciples. The night before he gave himself as our Savior, Jesus expressed his love with a simple yet profound act. He washed the disciples' feet. As he had done from the beginning of his earthly life he humbled himself again, and now kneeling before sinful humans, he washed the dirt and grime of the streets of Jerusalem from their feet. Jesus exemplified what he taught. "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). He demonstrated in his life and actions the truth of what he taught --
• " . . . whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:4).
• " . . . if anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all" (Mark 9:35).
• "For he who is least among you all -- he is the greatest" (Luke 9:48).
The royal law of love, demonstrated and exemplified by our Lord and Savior, stipulates that the citizens of God’s kingdom get to the head of the line by putting themselves at the end. The status that we least desire humanly, the title no human would want, is the status that Jesus gives to us, the very status and title that he accepted as prophesied by Isaiah -- the Suffering Servant.
Jesus did not leave his love behind in the empty tomb. He did not take his victory to heaven and there place the resurrection trophy in a display case. Jesus shares his victory with us, that we might more effectively serve him and tell others of his priceless and matchless love. One day Jesus will return in glory. We are promised that at that time our bodies, dead or alive, will be transformed into immortal and eternal bodies (1 Corinthians 15:50-56). Our resurrection is possible because of his. Then, at his Second Coming, he will completely remove all pain and suffering and misery and death. There will be no more tears, no more emptiness, no more war and no more evil. All things will be new. God's love will reign as supreme as the waters of the sea cover this earth.
May you be filled with his love and covered by his grace as we all gather at his cross and his empty tomb. May we worship him together, in unity and in his love, for he alone is worthy. "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise! . . . To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" (Revelation 5:12-13).In Christ
Greg AlbrechtRETURN TO PTM WEEKLY UPDATE CONTENTS PAGE
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