God the Father’s desire is that no one should perish. So Jesus came from the Father’s heart to us. To open the way for eternal salvation and healing – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. The destructive powers that death, evil and selfish desires had over humanity, needed to be broken so Jesus gave His life.
Through literary flair shaped by culture, our creator communicates to us in words filled with emotion and passion. His longing for each individual is deep, intimate and personal. As we are the object of God’s yearning, He continually woos us and reaches into our hearts. We are His true love and He invites us in.
As we journey through this life, many things happen. If certain events or a person does not live up to our expectations, we can loose perspective and become unsettled. Yet God is there with us and draws us ever so close.
At the empty tomb opposites collide. Earth and heaven, darkness and light, mourning and gladness, hate and love, temporary and eternal. Let us go back in time, to that moment at the empty tomb. Just two days ago they had crucified our Lord.
At the cross opposites collide. Earth and heaven, death and life, humanity and God, shame and honour, bondage and freedom, suffering and salvation. Let us go back in time, to that moment at the cross. It is Friday. Today is preparation day, the day before Passover.
In the garden opposites collide. Earth and heaven, evil and good, humanity and God, self will and God’s will, bondage and freedom, surrender and victory. Let us go back in time to that moment in the garden at the foot of the mountain.
Paul was so convinced that nothing could separate us from the love of God? God’s unconditional love and faithfulness, is who He is. God is love. For God’s own reputation, He must fulfill His promises.
The players of this drama are Jesus a Jew and a Samaritan woman. She thirsts and is alone. Prejudices, social status and shame governed society. Then Jesus crosses the cultural divide, walks into her loneliness with Living Water and everything changes.
A gift given for no other reason than because one so loves is very special. Given without any expectation of anything in return. It is an expression of an unconditional love. Today this Christmas we will unwrap the greatest gift of all given out of the greatest love of all.
Jesus knows His time has come to leave this world and return to God the Father. He will carry the full force of human brokenness, depravity and shame. Suffer public humiliation, torture and pain. Through a total violation of all cultural boundaries He was about to demonstrate the love of the servant king.
The evil powers use fear to deceive and control people. Fear makes people act out of selfish ambition and traps them in a web of lies. It is not of God. When fear comes knocking on our door, we can look to Jesus and His love for us. As a result fear has no place in our life. What God had blessed no one could curse.
The creator of heaven and earth and all things good is not a master controller up there in heaven manipulating people and situations for His own gain. That is the way of humanity. Yet even in the darkness God is still working, continually pursuing in love, both the good and the bad. This is the tale of two kings.