[Discoveries] 04-08-07 Happy Easter

[Inspiration in Your Inbox]

/*I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the 
fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 
and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. -- 
Philippians 3:10-11 NIV*/

(I wrote this article a couple years ago, but I'd like to share it again 
this year.)

Personally, I'd like to be indestructible. You know, like superman, only 
more so.

There's a good reason:

I don't like pain in any of its many varieties. I don't like being hurt. 
I don't like being vulnerable. I don't like being fragile.

I try to explain all this to God. "Just think of the advantages," I tell 
Him. "If I were indestructible, I wouldn't be afraid of anything. You 
could ask me to do anything, and I'd do it."

God must laugh. The angels, if they listen to prayers, they must laugh too.

"But, wait a second, God," I tell Him. "You're indestructible. Nobody 
can back you into a corner. Nobody can make you squirm. If I pointed a 
revolver at You and commanded You to hand over all Your money, You'd 
send Your servants, the police, to me; they'd come and lock me up."

(More laughter.)

But I'm on a roll, so I go on. "While You're at it, God, couldn't you 
take this verse about 'the fellowship of His sufferings' out of the 
Bible? It bothers me. I don't like suffering."

I sit there, knowing full well that God isn't going to do any of these 
things I'm praying for, but feeling good for having gotten these 
feelings out on the table.

But, slowly, an uneasy feeling starts to come over me. I can't quite put 
my finger on it. The fellowship of His sufferings. The phrase rings over 
and over again in my mind. The fellowship of His sufferings.

Then it occurs to me that the path to resurrection indestructibility -- 
at least for Jesus -- was paved with thorns, with nails, with drops of 
blood, with contempt and injustice and humiliation.

It hurt.

It seems like every time Jesus surrendered to one level of pain and 
humiliation, another deeper level was waiting for him, until, finally, 
life itself was given away.

He was crucified in weakness.

Why?

Oh, I know the theology. I know that He is the atoning sacrifice for our 
sins.

But there's something more here. Otherwise, why would He reach through 
the centuries and ask me -- ask you -- to fellowship with Him in His 
suffering?

Why is He so lonely?

I don't know why I started crying. Except that I started feeling the 
hurt of Jesus. I started to uncover a fragile and vulnerable side to God 
I never knew existed.

And, in stumbling into this, I begin to feel that all the hurts and 
fears I've worked so hard to protect are okay with Him. I don't have to 
hide them any more.

What is my path to resurrection? I don't know. I just know that 
sometimes it will hurt. And I know, in the end, I will have to give away 
everything -- all my strength, all my defenses, my very life.

But, suddenly, that feels okay.

Easter Sunday. The Day of Resurrection. A resurrected Lord comes to 
visit his flock of weak, vulnerable and frightened disciples. His 
greeting? "Peace to you." The same word He used to calm the convulsing 
Sea of Galilee: "Peace."

Once again, Jesus reaches through the centuries. He speaks to you and He 
speaks to me. "Peace."

How is it that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us? 
How is it that we can stand up to the storms in our lives? The 
resurrected Lord is here. He speaks through us: "Peace."

All around us storms rage. People hurt. People cry out in pain. But we, 
the light of this world, carry a great healing gift to our generation.

Peace.

It's okay. Jesus is here.

Be encouraged!
Dwight


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