For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. I Corinthians 1:18 NIV
Yesterday I was driving my students home from school. A girl was involved in a conversation with her friend. She was explaining her reasoning for the holiday on Good Friday and the students being out of school.
“Pastor Greg, is tomorrow God’s birthday?”
I wanted to laugh, but I noticed the sincerity in which she asked. “No, tomorrow is the day we celebrate, no honor Jesus death.” Even as the words came from my mouth, I understood how strange that phrase sounds outside of the church environment. Why celebrate someone’s death?
“Actually, we are being thankful for life. He died so that we may have life.” That sounded much more complete. Death is only half of the equation. We will never get the right answer if we only focus on Jesus’ death. And we will never see the beauty of the whole picture unless we include the resurrection. Remember, on a public education school bus I am a little limited from preaching, but I can answer questions.
“We celebrate Jesus birthday at Christmas”
In deep thought she replied, “Are God and Jesus the same person?”
“Yes!” Again, I understood the complexity and the mystery of the Trinity. She seemed satisfied with the answer and the conversation ended as we were close to her bus stop.
Could it be that one of hesitancies that American Christians have in sharing their faith is the perceived foolishness of the gospel message? Most people want to be liked. The gospel message divides. We are reminding people that we will all have to be accountable to God for our actions…because of Jesus’ death on a cross.
When you speak what you believe with someone who disagrees with your statements or has never even heard of that idea, it does sound a little strange.
We serve a God who loves us. He is estranged relationally from us because of our wrongful actions and thoughts in which our penalty is death or eternal separation from Him, He came to earth as 100 percent man and 100 percent God. Jesus performed miracles of compassion and healing. As an innocent man, he died a cruel death on a cross, rose again in 3 days, and promises life everlasting to those who follow him.
Today, let us remember that there is no other “power” in heaven or on the earth, like the gospel message to bring a change in a person’s life. It is so powerful of an experience that Jesus said it is like being “born again”. That is something to celebrate.
Blessings Love y’all