Unlike any other
"A love unlike any other. A God unlike any other." (N.T. Wright in Lent for Everyone, Good Friday)
These words closed out my Lenten devotional today, and I was struck by how true they are. On this day, when we remember the crucifixion... it's easy to jump to the end of the story. We know how it turns out - the amazing things that happen on Sunday. But can you imagine the confusion and sorrow of those who lived it?
They didn't know what Jesus was doing on that cross. They expected a completely different God. We also often want to make Jesus fit our understanding. I read an article today that resonated with me. It's called "I'm Christian, unless you're gay." I don't want to get into the issue of homosexuality here, and that wasn't the author's point either. His point was that we tend to be "Christian" towards those who are like us, but when people are different or don't fit into our understanding of what it means to be Christian, we feel acceptable excluding, rejecting, and sometimes even to the point of bullying them because of our beliefs. I know I have fallen into that trap myself.
But the thing about what Jesus did on the cross is that it wasn't just for people like me, or people like you, or people whose lifestyles we approve. It was for the whole world. That person you exclude - Jesus died for them. That person you never agree with - Jesus died for them. That person who is mean to you - Jesus died for them. And Jesus died for them because he loves them. And though that may be hard enough to swallow - it doesn't end there - Jesus calls us to love them too...
"A love unlike any other. A God unlike any other."
Amazing.
These words closed out my Lenten devotional today, and I was struck by how true they are. On this day, when we remember the crucifixion... it's easy to jump to the end of the story. We know how it turns out - the amazing things that happen on Sunday. But can you imagine the confusion and sorrow of those who lived it?
They didn't know what Jesus was doing on that cross. They expected a completely different God. We also often want to make Jesus fit our understanding. I read an article today that resonated with me. It's called "I'm Christian, unless you're gay." I don't want to get into the issue of homosexuality here, and that wasn't the author's point either. His point was that we tend to be "Christian" towards those who are like us, but when people are different or don't fit into our understanding of what it means to be Christian, we feel acceptable excluding, rejecting, and sometimes even to the point of bullying them because of our beliefs. I know I have fallen into that trap myself.
But the thing about what Jesus did on the cross is that it wasn't just for people like me, or people like you, or people whose lifestyles we approve. It was for the whole world. That person you exclude - Jesus died for them. That person you never agree with - Jesus died for them. That person who is mean to you - Jesus died for them. And Jesus died for them because he loves them. And though that may be hard enough to swallow - it doesn't end there - Jesus calls us to love them too...
"A love unlike any other. A God unlike any other."
Amazing.
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