Lockdown Day 16: WHAT KIND OF GOD IS THIS…?

“As Jesus is lynched in the name of religious orthodoxy and executed in the name of imperial justice… we discover that the God revealed in Christ would rather die in the name of love than kill in the name of freedom.” (Brian Zahnd)

Let that sink in for a moment.

Easter Saturday is the day between despair and hope. The moment of hopelessness between the bloody cross and the empty grave. Many people find themselves here at this moment in time. COVID-19 and an extended lock-down – with dreams and ambitions placed on hold or even shattered. Gone! We can only imagine that the disciples, sitting together in fear of being discovered and contemplating the disillusion of a martyred leader, felt exactly the same. We have the luxury of knowing He was resurrected. They didn’t. Many today don’t

But on this in-between-day there is one question to consider: Who is like unto Thee …?

This crucified Saviour who secures eternal life through His own carnal death.

This all-powerful God who is found washing the feet of his followers.

This all-sustaining source of life who weeps at the grave of a friend.

This supreme Lord who seeks not submission but pursues friendships.

This omnipotent Creator who builds His kingdom on gentleness and humility.

This ruler of heavens who chooses to serve and not to be served.

This Almighty One who displays strength through meekness.

This Righteous Judge who is slow to anger and quick to forgive.

This God who disregards the crowds to seek out individuals.

And, above all, this Emmanuel God who came to earth, not to start a religion but to end it. (Matthew 11: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation] AMP)

This is the Christ, called Jesus – killed yesterday, resurrected tomorrow.

Jesus didn’t come to earth to start another religion. Christ came to earth as the “Lŏgŏs Word”, the most tangible expression of the Kingdom itself. It is with this understanding that we embrace Christ as the Lord of our lives. Not from a transactional point of view that ‘He paid for my sins’ only, but from a transformational point of view that ‘I become like Christ’ – the ‘logo’ of His kingdom, a metamorphosed, born-again, regenerated reflection of God almighty. The ultimate goal of every follower of Christ is: to let our light shine before men, that it will reflect Christ in such a way that they may see our transformed lives by our good deeds, moral excellence, and recognize, honour, and glorify our Father who is in heaven.