Rhythms Of Grace Community Fellowship

The crucifixion of Jesus in 33 AD, nobody in that world would have been able to hear the word "cross" without feeling the horror and shame of it. All of this needs to be in our minds and imaginations if we are to glimpse, let alone understand why that "word" was revolutionary!

The longer you look at Jesus, the more you want to follow him - that is, if it's the real Jesus. Plenty of people have made up a Jesus for themselves. One that makes them feel happy from time to time but doesn't challenge them. He doesn't suggest that they get up and do something about the condition of the world.

 To understand any event in history, you have to put it firmly into that history. Unless we allow first century contexts and insights to surround the event - we can be sure we'll fail to get hold of its original meaning.

 The whole point of John's gospel is that this is how God's power, the power of self giving love, the power of truth and the power of God's kingdom is being established. Then the risen Jesus breathes the Spirit upon his disciples and says "As the Father has sent me, so I send you."

 The point of trying to understand the cross better is not so that we can pat ourselves on the back for having solved some intellectual crossword puzzle, but so that God's power and wisdom may work in us and through us and out into the world that still regards Jesus's crucifixion as weakness and foolishness.

The purpose of it all is that we be glorified which is to share in the Messiah's redeeming healing rule and rule of all creation.

 Why is this story so powerful? What kind of sense does it make to suppose that the death of one man 2000 years ago could have that kind of power? What sort of revolution was launched on that dark and horrible afternoon?

God is not focused on our flaws. The point of grace is that God is captivated with who we could become. We are not who we could become but, we are loved right now regardless. That's Paul's point.

 In a world filled with pain and loss. Sometimes we just fill helpless and have no idea how to help. Thankfully Jesus meets us in our pain.

In Rome, you were subject to Rome, you offered allegiance to Rome, you had no option but to submit to Rome. Now Paul says - just imagine if you could leave all that behind. That's the image that underlies all of this language that Paul has woven throughout this chapter.