Real Time. Real People. Real Savior.
Sometimes we forget. We talk so much about Jesus and the cross and think so much about what it means. We see literally thousands of pictures and paintings from animated films to Renaissance works to the historically realistic setting of the Jesus of Nazareth film. But in spite of this – and maybe because of it – we forget that Jesus was a real man who lived in the real world and who had real people – people just like us- around Him, reacting and responding to Him. We forget that He is the real flesh and blood Savior who stepped into the lives of flesh and blood people…and who would step into our flesh and blood lives as our real Savior as well. This is our focus on these Wednesdays in Lent.
Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2021 “The Absent”
They should have been there, all twelve of them. But one had betrayed Him, one had denied Him, and the rest had run out on Him. Only one had returned. The others were “The Absent” or “The Missing.” Tonight is about them….and Jesus as their Savior… and about Jesus as the Savior of all “The Absent,” even when we are among them.
February 24, 2021 “The Haters”
It must have been a terrible scene. The haters “hurled insults at him” and made fun of him in the midst of His suffering as He bled from His wounds and struggled for each breath; as He was dying. Tonight is about them…and Jesus as their Savior … and about Jesus as the Savior of all the haters, even when we are among them.
March 3, 2021 “The Hopeful”
Have you ever been “on the outside looking in,” knowing that there was no way you could “get in?” When Jesus died, amidst all the haters there was one who against all hope desperately wanted into His kingdom. Tonight is about him and the open arms of Jesus. But it is also about us…and all those who are on the “outside looking in,” yet dare to hope for more.
March 10, 2021 “The Faithful”
All four Gospels – the eyewitness accounts of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus – there are short lists of the followers of Jesus who were there at the cross. These were the faithful. One who is mentioned by name in every list of the women who were there both at the cross and the tomb is Mary Magdalene. Why? What made her faithful? How did she know this flesh and blood Savior? What are we to see here? And how does this empower us to know Him in such a way to be faithful as well?
March 17, 2021 “The Family”
There is an old popular song entitled, “We are Family.” And we are. Jesus calls us His Brothers and Sisters – and declares God the Father to be our Father. So what does it mean? On the cross, we see how He treats family. It’s our focus tonight.
March 24, 2021 “The Outsider”
I grew up next door to a Roman Catholic family. They had a son, Tom, who was a year younger than I was and we were close friends. When he graduated from the 8th grade he threw a party and asked me to come. So I did. All the rest of the guests were from the Roman Catholic Grade school he had attended. Nobody would dance with me the entire night….and then came the last song and one girl walked over and asked me if I wanted to dance. It felt good not to be an outsider anymore. Tonight is about the outsiders – including us – and Jesus making us “insiders.”