A Frayed Knot

April 8, 2012  Easter

(This sermon is in large part based on a sermon posted by Kevin Jones from the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection:   http://lcrmarion.org/worship/a-frayed-knot-2011-easter-sermon/)

People should be given 6” pieces of string as they enter worship.

 I know you’ve been wondering why I gave everyone a piece of string when they arrived today. Take it out now and I’ll tell you a story. There was once a piece of string who was very hungry. He decided that he would treat himself to a great dinner. So he went to the fanciest restaurant in town and walked up to the host and asked to be seated at the finest table for one. The host looked down his nose at the little string and sneered, “We do not serve your type here!” and told him to leave. The string turned and walked sadly out of the restaurant. Once outside he was determined to get his fancy meal and he struck upon a plan. The little string bent himself over in half and made a loop. Then he twisted around and poked his head up through the loop. Reaching up, he untwisted his top. Then did the same to his feet and walked back into the restaurant. Again he approached the host and asked for the finest table for one. The host squinted at the little string and said, “Aren’t you that string that was just in here a moment ago?” The string responded, “No, I’m a frayed knot.”

That’s the message for you today. You heard it in the Gospel reading. It is the point of the resurrection. Be not afraid: Be a frayed knot (afraid not).

The word “afraid” appears in this short lesson four times. Twice it describes the fear that people were experiencing and twice the people are told, “Do not be afraid.”  You need to hear that message today. So many things in our lives make us afraid. Let’s see why you are told to be afraid not.

Matthew’s Gospel is the only account where the stone is still in place as the women approach the tomb. The angel appears and rolls away the stone to reveal an empty tomb. Then the angel sits on the stone with his dazzling white clothes. The Roman guards are so afraid that they pass out. The angel ignores them and speaks to the  women. This may be an example of first century Jewish humor. The big tough soldiers faint while the women stand strong. The message here is that we need not fear earthly powers. The Roman soldiers represent earthly powers. In Jesus’ day, Rome held all the political power, all the economic power and all the military power. In the presence of God’s messenger and the news of new life, all these powers cannot stand. They pass out. They faint. So in the face of earthly powers you should be a frayed knot (afraid not)

 The second thing, and the most important message of this story, is that we don’t need to be afraid of God’s judgment. Many people and preachers are eager to tell you that God is unhappy with you. They remind you that you have done wrong, you have thought wrong things, and believed wrong. They tell you that God is fed up with you and angry with you and has to punish you. They want you to be afraid of God’s judgment. That is the message of the Law, and it is part of the message of God’s Word. But it is not the final word. At both the birth of Jesus and His resurrection, the heavenly messengers tell us “Be Afraid Not!” The message that the angel brings today is not a message of punishment but one of love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. Be Afraid Not!

Then, as the women leave the tomb, both afraid and filled with joy, Jesus appears to them and tells them to “Go and tell my brothers to meet me.” He calls them brothers. These are the people who betrayed, denied and abandoned Jesus in his hour of need just a few days earlier. They deserted him and now he calls them “brothers.” Jesus wants to be with them. So they meet Jesus on the mountain in Galilee. Jesus does not say to them:

• ·        “I want you to sit here on this mountain and think about what you did.”
• ·        “I think you owe me an apology.”
• ·        “If you confess these terrible things you did, then I will forgive you.”

No! Jesus comes out of the tomb having already forgiven them. He picks up where he left off. He doesn’t dwell on the past but puts the disciples to work continuing his ministry. “Go and make more disciples,” he says. “Continue what we were doing.” God doesn’t give up on us no matter how many times we get it wrong. Because of the faith you and I have in Jesus, we live in a state of grace, confident of the forgiveness is ours because Jesus not only paid for our sins with his death, but He rose again in victory to defeat death. So this is God’s judgment: You are forgiven. You are loved. So in the face of God’s judgment we can be a frayed knot (afraid not).

 So if we know that we are forgiven, we don’t have to be afraid of God’s judgment about the things in our past. And if we don’t have to be afraid of any earthly powers in this present age, that leaves only one arena: The future. As Matthew tells the resurrection story the angel tells the women to, “Go. Tell. He will meet you.” Out there. In the future. In the days to come. Jesus is already there, waiting for you. And as the women go, even before they get to the mountain and even before they get to tell, Jesus meets them. And he says, “Go. Tell. I will meet you.” Out there. In the future. I will be waiting for you.

You see, the resurrected Jesus is not bound to time the same way we are. Jesus is in the past, in the present and in the future all at the same time.  He’s out there in your future getting things ready for when you get there. He is preparing. He will meet you there as you go. And I’m not just talking about after you die.

• ·        I’m talking about later today at Easter dinner when you find yourself in the awkward and disagreeable conversation with that one relative you swore you were not going to get into this conversation with. Jesus is already there.
• ·        I’m talking about later this week when you have that difficult test, when you hear rumors that there will be another round of layoffs at work or when you get bad news from the doctor’s office.
• ·        I’m talking about later this year. Jesus is out there preparing for that time when you can be the grace and love and forgiveness of God to someone who is hurting or dying or despairing. Jesus is there getting ready to be with you when there are no words to say, but only a hand to hold on to.

This has implications for the way you and I should live our lives between now and the time we die.

Be not afraid. Live for the one who died and rose again for you. I want to share with you an example of not living for yourself that I came across just a few weeks ago. This story was in the March 20 “Athens Daily Review.” A man named Patrick Greene of San Antonio, a professed atheist, threatened to sue Henderson County over the display of a manger scene on the courthouse lawn. His experience with Christians was that they were narrow-minded individuals who had treated him unkindly throughout his life. He said, “My wife and I had never had a Christian do anything nice for us. Just the opposite.” But all that changed when the 63-year-old Greene learned he had a detached retina. He was forced to give up his Yellow Cab and prepare himself for impending blindness. His surgery would cost $20,000 and he didn’t have the money to pay his bills or buy groceries.

Jessica Crye, a member of Sand Springs Baptist Church in Athens, learned of his troubles on the Internet, and felt compelled to help. She went to her pastor, the Rev. Eric Graham, who contacted Greene to find out more about his needs.

Greene said. “First of all, I don’t want $20,000. That would be ridiculous, because there’s a chance the surgery would fail. On top of that, there’s a chance it could become detached again.” Greene told the pastor he had a more immediate need. “I said, if you really want to contribute something to help, we need groceries.” Greene said he was “flabbergasted” to learn that a group of Christians in Henderson County was reaching out to help an atheist, who in February had informed Commissioners Court that he would sue if the manger scene reappeared this year. “I told my wife about it,” Greene said. “They’re going to help us?”  Karen asked. Greene thought that if anything, he’d see $50, maybe $100.A few days later, the Christians made good on their promise, and sent a check for $400.  “I said I can’t believe it. I thought I was in the Twilight Zone.”

The money went to help pay the rent, and provide necessities from the grocery store. The contributions didn’t stop at $400 either. More money is coming in. Greene is so amazed by the generosity of the Christians in Henderson County, he’s sharing the story through the media, and is thinking about writing a book. “I’m going to call it the real ‘Christians of Henderson County,  Texas,’” Greene said.  “These people are acting like what the Bible says a Christian does.”

Now, rather than keep trying to keep the manger scene removed, Green said he’d like to add his contribution. “I have decided to show my appreciation to the Christian community for all their help, and I am going to buy a star for the top of the Nativity scene.  You people can figure out how to plug it in,” Greene said.

Because you and I know that Jesus died for us and that He is risen again, we need to be living for him the way the real Christians of Henderson County did. We have His promise to be with us every step of the way. Even we you come to your last breath, Jesus is already there. He went ahead of you into death so that we do not have to go there alone. Jesus will be there to lead you to new life: Resurrection Life. So face of the future. And be a frayed knot because the living, risen Christ goes with you. Amen

The King Comes

April 1 2012   Palm Sunday/Sunday of the Passion

Get ready for the emotional roller coaster that is Holy Week. It starts today with Jesus being given a King’s welcome. Cheers were going up as he entered Jerusalem. But before the cries of “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” could completely fade away, He was hanging from a cross and we behold the shocking outcome of His coming. The joyful cries of His triumphant entry become a stunned silence. Hopes and dreams change to devastating despair. But that is part of what it means to heed the call of John the Baptizer and REPENT. We must give up on ourselves and let God do His wondrous, miraculous forgiving. Life doesn’t always go the way we expect it to. And that is a good thing. You heard much of the account read to you already in this service. Let’s reflect today on how “Holy Week” Begins.

The entry of Jesus into Jerusalem was prophesied by Zechariah and Matthew makes reference to it in his Gospel:

We celebrate the coming of the newborn king at Christmas. That in itself is an amazing event. And on Palm Sunday, it appears as though He is coming into His own. As He comes into Jerusalem, He was hailed as a victorious King, which He would be. But the people had no idea how that was going to come about. They were rejoicing, looking forward to being a part of His kingdom, but they did not understand what that would mean for them. We have the advantage over them in that we know His entry into Jerusalem would lead to suffering and death. We know that it was because Jesus came to offer Himself in our place that our sins have been forgiven. We know that the King comes to do everything necessary for us to be saved. That’s the victory that is ours!

Good Friday should be the focal point. It was a dreadful day, because the Lord of Life hung on a cross, dying. It was a dreadful day because we see the innocent and sinless One die on account of us. It is an unbelievable day that the King comes for this very purpose. It is an awesome day because the total effect of our sin is revealed in our Lord’s cry, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Yet it is also an attractive day, because we know the cleansing power of the blood that flowed from His wounds and His side.

Even though that is where we concentrate, let’s not skip by this day, Palm Sunday, too quickly. We need to pause to catch the greatness, the beauty and value of the moment. The entry of Jesus into Jerusalem was itself a fulfillment of prophecy. The King Comes! God comes in triumph to His people. He no longer was sending them a prophet or a messenger. The King comes Himself! He is present in our midst. He comes to rule among us. From our perspective, we know that the Jesus who rode into Jerusalem was truly the victor. We know that because we know that a week later He would be risen from the dead!

And don’t let His humble appearance on a donkey fool you. The one who rode into Jerusalem is God Himself. The King Comes! He may look meek and lowly, but the welcome given Him was entirely appropriate. He would be triumphant and victorious through His death that would pay for the sins of all people and His resurrection that would destroy death’s power over us.

The King comes so that you might receive Him. He came to be the Lord of your Life. He conquered the foes for you. He has destroyed all the sin in you that would create a barrier between you and God. He has done everything necessary to establish a relationship with you. He wants you to let Him live in your heart and your mind. The King wants to come to you.

This King comes as one who has already won the battle. He comes bringing the victor’s spoils. He comes to proclaim His triumph. All that He won He wants to share. He does not hoard the riches for Himself, but wants to spread them out for all. Get ready for the roller coaster ride again this week. Spread your garments before Him. Proclaim that He is your King. Watch with Him in the Garden. See Him on the cross. Receive Him anew into your heart and life this week, and behold in awe and wonder your King.

An Exclusive Feast

Little Billy came home from his first day of school and told his mother, “I’m the best looking kid in my class!” “Who told you that?” asked his mother. Billy replied, “No one. But I saw everyone else who was there.”  I think that must have been the smug attitude of the Pharisees. As we consider once again that Jesus Still Eats with Sinners, today we hear of yet another time that Jesus was eating in the home of a Pharisee. As usual, He was being closely watched. He questioned whether or not it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath and then did just that. He warned them that humility was better than pride and arrogance in God’s sight. And he criticized the host for not extending hospitality to the poor and physically challenged. One guest tried to smooth over the tension by saying “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”  He no doubt assumed that he and the others present in this Pharisees’ home would be among those so blessed. The Pharisees believed that when Messiah came there would be a great banquet. Those who had been faithful followers of the Lord would get the positions of honor at this banquet, and the Pharisees assumed that meant them. It was in response to this attitude and the one man’s comment that Jesus told yet another parable. That’s the part of this text I want you to consider with me today.

A man who hosted a banquet and invited a lot of guests. Most of them accepted the invitation. When the meal was ready, the host sent the customary second announcement to each guest. In their culture, acceptance of the initial invitation meant they would show up when it was announced that all was prepared. But that was not what happened here. They all had excuses. A few examples are given. “I have to go see a field I bought.” “I need to test drive my new set of oxen.” “I’m married now and that changes things.” (While true, I’m not sure it was a reason not to attend the banquet.)

The host becomes angry and upset with his guests. He instructs his servants to go find people who would attend, regardless of social or economic standing. They invited the poor and physically disabled. They all came and there was room for more. So the host tells his servants to invite strangers and outcasts until the banquet hall is filled. Then the host closes with a chilling statement:  not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet. I would guess that there was an eerie, tense silence in the room after Jesus said that. Let’s consider the implications this parable has for those of us living in the 21^st century.

The Feast has been Prepared

The Feast is ready. The host has done everything necessary. All the guests have to do is show up. It is like when you go to someone’s house for dinner and you ask, “Can I do anything to help?” and they tell you, quite truthfully, “No, everything is ready. Just sit down and enjoy.” That is what God says, because He had a plan and carried it out. Everything is ready.

Scripture is all about how God has done everything for us. The message of Jesus is all about that. God so loved the world that He did what was necessary for us to be able to attend the heavenly banquet. In every aspect of our lives, God was there first, preparing things for us. And he invites us to come to Him. You either accept or reject the invitation.

The Invitation Must Not Be Rejected

While rejection is an option, it is not what God desires. When He invites you, He expects that you will accept. After all, He is not offering you anything that would harm you or be dangerous in any way. He wants only good for you, in fact He wants only the best for you. And that is what He offers. So why would anyone say no?

Let’s go back to the parable. Each of the excuses mentioned were legitimate actitvities of everyday life, but none of them was so pressing that they should take precedence over God’s invitation. And that is why the host gets so angry. His claim on their time was more important than any of the things they were doing. By putting other things ahead of God, they were violating the First Commandment.

It is at this point that our shoes may begin to pinch a bit. The question today is not so much whether our actions are immoral or illegal of sinful. It is rather, “What proper, decent and socially acceptable things are keeping you from responding to God’s higher calling? What things are you putting before God and His claim on your life? God wants you to understand that He should take priority over everything else. The God who loved you enough to provide His Son as the sacrifice for your sin should occupy the number one position in your life.

The Banquet Hall Will Be Filled

When the host hears of the rejections from the original invitees, He still wants to share His goodness. He brings in those who were of a lower social level. There was still room, so He invites foreigners and strangers and wanderers. The parable recounts exactly what Jesus did. He came to His own and His own received Him not. He went to His countrymen, the Jews, but was spurned by all the proper religious folks. So he goes to the fisherman, the tax collector, the prostitute, the children, and to all those the proper folk referred to as “sinners.” But it goes beyond that, past the blood line of Abraham. He extends His welcome to the Roman Centurion, the Samaritan Woman, and the variety of humanity gathered on Pentecost from every nation under the sun. No more boundaries, not walls of separation. No person was beyond being invited. God wants everyone to enjoy the banquet He prepared through the death and resurrection of Jesus to pay for sin. There is no other requirement for participation than a willingness to come.

You and I will be guests at that banquet because of our faith in Jesus. We are to be inviting others as well. The Holy Spirit wants to work through you to bring others to faith, ensuring them a seat at the table. The Host will fill His banquet hall.

Jesus spoke of an exclusive event. Only some were invited. Others sat outside with no hope of gaining entrance. But when those originally invited rejected the offer, things changed. It became exclusive in that those first invited were now excluded. This is a warning to all those invited. But it is also the cause for rejoicing for those of us who had no right to expect an invitation that we have now received. Jesus wants to eat with us – sinners. He paid for our sins, satisfied God’s judgment, defeated death and prepared the banquet. Now He invites you to attend. Because of your faith you will hear him say:

Spring 2012 Mission Project

We are currently supporting a local Soup Kitchen: Grand Central Station in Sherman. They provide free lunches to anyone who comes, no questions asked. We will be collecting various items in Midweek to help, along with our monetary offerings. More information will be shared each Sunday in the bulletin.

Sojourner Class

This small group meets at Grace on the first Tuesday of the month. Gorlyn Bronstad is the leader. Contact Gorlyn or the church office for more information about this class.

A Day Outside

 

I spent a recent Monday working outdoors all day, doing a variety of jobs: rebuilding part of a deck, hauling off a load of trash, spraying weeds, general clean-up. While I was doing that, God and I had several long talks. More than once I simply looked up at the beautiful blue sky and said, “Thanks, Lord, for this gorgeous day.” Even though I knew there would be aching muscles and joints the next day – and there were – I thoroughly enjoy the opportunities I have to work hard outside.

Part of my reflection that evening, while resting comfortably in a recliner, was on Psalm 8. It begins and ends with O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! I was appreciating the beauty of His creation that I enjoyed that spring day with everything green and fresh and wildflowers all around. And in my pondering, I shared the feeling expressed by David when he wrote: When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? The one who created not only the earth and everything in it, but also the universe and everything that exists everywhere, cares about me. Little old insignificant me. That is why He was willing to come live among us and as one of us, take our sins on Himself, pay the penalty we deserve, and defeat death’s grip on us by His resurrection.

I have long loved the way Henrietta Luise von Hayn expressed this marvel in a hymn that is over 200 years old:

I am Jesus’ little lamb,
Ever glad at heart I am;
For my Shepherd gently guides me,
Knows my needs, and well provides me
Loves me every day the same,
even calls me by my name.

Out of His tremendous love, my Lord is mindful of me and cares for me. Wow!

All Church Picnic

Get ready for another great Memorial Day Weekend at GRACE. We’ll be having an Old Fashioned Church Picnic on Sunday, May 27th: worship and games and great food and the chance to just sit and visit.  On that day there will be only one worship service, and that will be at 10:00 a.m. (No Sunday School or Bible Class)  We’ll be in the All Saints Pavilion, so please dress in casual clothes. We’ll eat around noon. The picnic this year will be a potluck, so bring things to share. Before and after the meal there will be games and activities for all ages. Some of you may want to sit under the tent and play dominoes. Others will want to be a part of the balloon toss or egg relay race. We just want you all to be there to enjoy the day with us.

We hope to have some special guests with us to provide music. See you there!

Men’s Bible Study Breakfast

Every Thursday a group of guys gets together at Braum’s in Sherman to have a bite to eat, drink some coffee, spend some time together in God’s Word, and then discuss all the problems in the world and how we would fix them. We are currently working our way through the Gospel of John. You are welcome to join us at 6:30 a.m.

An Exclusive Feast

March 25, 2012

Little Billy came home from his first day of school and told his mother, “I’m the best looking kid in my class!” “Who told you that?” asked his mother. Billy replied, “No one. But I saw everyone else who was there.”  I think that must have been the smug attitude of the Pharisees. As we consider once again that Jesus Still Eats with Sinners, today we hear of yet another time that Jesus was eating in the home of a Pharisee. As usual, He was being closely watched. He questioned whether or not it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath and then did just that. He warned them that humility was better than pride and arrogance in God’s sight. And he criticized the host for not extending hospitality to the poor and physically challenged. One guest tried to smooth over the tension by saying “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”  He no doubt assumed that he and the others present in this Pharisees’ home would be among those so blessed. The Pharisees believed that when Messiah came there would be a great banquet. Those who had been faithful followers of the Lord would get the positions of honor at this banquet, and the Pharisees assumed that meant them. It was in response to this attitude and the one man’s comment that Jesus told yet another parable. That’s the part of this text I want you to consider with me today.

A man who hosted a banquet and invited a lot of guests. Most of them accepted the invitation. When the meal was ready, the host sent the customary second announcement to each guest. In their culture, acceptance of the initial invitation meant they would show up when it was announced that all was prepared. But that was not what happened here. They all had excuses. A few examples are given. “I have to go see a field I bought.” “I need to test drive my new set of oxen.” “I’m married now and that changes things.” (While true, I’m not sure it was a reason not to attend the banquet.)

The host becomes angry and upset with his guests. He instructs his servants to go find people who would attend, regardless of social or economic standing. They invited the poor and physically disabled. They all came and there was room for more. So the host tells his servants to invite strangers and outcasts until the banquet hall is filled. Then the host closes with a chilling statement:  not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet. I would guess that there was an eerie, tense silence in the room after Jesus said that. Let’s consider the implications this parable has for those of us living in the 21^st century.

The Feast has been Prepared

The Feast is ready. The host has done everything necessary. All the guests have to do is show up. It is like when you go to someone’s house for dinner and you ask, “Can I do anything to help?” and they tell you, quite truthfully, “No, everything is ready. Just sit down and enjoy.” That is what God says, because He had a plan and carried it out. Everything is ready.

Scripture is all about how God has done everything for us. The message of Jesus is all about that. God so loved the world that He did what was necessary for us to be able to attend the heavenly banquet. In every aspect of our lives, God was there first, preparing things for us. And he invites us to come to Him. You either accept or reject the invitation.

The Invitation Must Not Be Rejected

While rejection is an option, it is not what God desires. When He invites you, He expects that you will accept. After all, He is not offering you anything that would harm you or be dangerous in any way. He wants only good for you, in fact He wants only the best for you. And that is what He offers. So why would anyone say no?

Let’s go back to the parable. Each of the excuses mentioned were legitimate actitvities of everyday life, but none of them was so pressing that they should take precedence over God’s invitation. And that is why the host gets so angry. His claim on their time was more important than any of the things they were doing. By putting other things ahead of God, they were violating the First Commandment.

It is at this point that our shoes may begin to pinch a bit. The question today is not so much whether our actions are immoral or illegal of sinful. It is rather, “What proper, decent and socially acceptable things are keeping you from responding to God’s higher calling? What things are you putting before God and His claim on your life? God wants you to understand that He should take priority over everything else. The God who loved you enough to provide His Son as the sacrifice for your sin should occupy the number one position in your life.

The Banquet Hall Will Be Filled

When the host hears of the rejections from the original invitees, He still wants to share His goodness. He brings in those who were of a lower social level. There was still room, so He invites foreigners and strangers and wanderers. The parable recounts exactly what Jesus did. He came to His own and His own received Him not. He went to His countrymen, the Jews, but was spurned by all the proper religious folks. So he goes to the fisherman, the tax collector, the prostitute, the children, and to all those the proper folk referred to as “sinners.” But it goes beyond that, past the blood line of Abraham. He extends His welcome to the Roman Centurion, the Samaritan Woman, and the variety of humanity gathered on Pentecost from every nation under the sun. No more boundaries, not walls of separation. No person was beyond being invited. God wants everyone to enjoy the banquet He prepared through the death and resurrection of Jesus to pay for sin. There is no other requirement for participation than a willingness to come.

You and I will be guests at that banquet because of our faith in Jesus. We are to be inviting others as well. The Holy Spirit wants to work through you to bring others to faith, ensuring them a seat at the table. The Host will fill His banquet hall.

Jesus spoke of an exclusive event. Only some were invited. Others sat outside with no hope of gaining entrance. But when those originally invited rejected the offer, things changed. It became exclusive in that those first invited were now excluded. This is a warning to all those invited. But it is also the cause for rejoicing for those of us who had no right to expect an invitation that we have now received. Jesus wants to eat with us – sinners. He paid for our sins, satisfied God’s judgment, defeated death and prepared the banquet. Now He invites you to attend. Because of your faith you will hear him say:

Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right

For longer than I can remember, I have enjoyed “The Family Circus” by Bil (and now Jeff) Keane. I clipped one a number of years ago that I came across just recently. On the wall is a sign that says “Two Wrongs Don’t Make A Right.” The oldest boy, Billy, is asking, “Well, how many wrongs DO make a right?”

If only it worked that way. I remember my mother telling me “two wrongs don’t make a right” and I have passed that platitude on to my children. I remember times in my life that I pondered the possibility of being able to undo the wrongs I had done. Maybe if I tried really hard, I could make up for them? If I were extra good, would that cancel them out? Maybe if I…but there was no use. I wasn’t going to happen. I was looking in the wrong place for the answer to my problems. I was looking inside myself. The painful truth is that there is no way that I or anyone else could ever undo the wrong that has been done. All our wrongs will never make a right. And as sinful people we continue to pile up wrong after wrong after wrong.

The good news is that God can and did use wrongs to accomplish a right. It is not something we can do, but God did this wonderful work. He let Jesus be wrongfully accused. Jesus was wrongfully beaten. Jesus was wrongfully berated and mocked and ridiculed. Jesus was wrongfully put to death. And when Jesus died, He was bearing in His body all the wrongs that have ever been done or will be done. God used all those wrongs to make a right. By letting Jesus die in our place, He has accomplished forgiveness of sins for all who put their trust in Christ. And by raising Him on the third day, as we are about to celebrate again on Easter, He has destroyed death’s power over us and guaranteed eternal life to all who trust His promise.

Our wrongs and our efforts are not capable of making us right with God. But God used our wrongs to make something very right. God has in Christ reconciled the world to Himself. He took our wrongs and made us right. The death and resurrection of Jesus has done this on our behalf.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 

That was wrong. But it makes us right with God. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  

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