The Awkard and Uncomfortable Love of God
It’s true.
The evangelical church seldom celebrates the seasons of Advent and Lent.
Yet, I find their purpose to be exceedingly helpful in my own spiritual advancement.
Hence, the reason I wrote my little Advent devotional book, “Don’t Drop Jesus,” and, may contemplate a Lenten devotional book down the road.
Do you know why we celebrate Lent?
I love this quote I found several years ago, and never did find the author of it:
I’ve also borrow this quote from our former pastor regarding Lent:
Regarding Lent, Jonathan Gibson says: “To be clear, the season is not about what we can do for Christ by our work or prayers or fasting; rather, it is about what He has done for us in His work and prayers and fasting—a work that began in His life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and the outpouring of His Holy Spirit, and which will conclude in His return to glory.”
I would, also, add that Lent is an incredible period of time to look deeply into our hearts and examine our own sinful nature.
After all, Lent really is a journey that first takes us to the cross of Christ, where we experience the beauty of having our sins completely covered at the expense of SOMEONE ELSE…SOMEONE COMPLETELY (!) PURE (!) and INNOCENT (!)…
Praise the Lord, the Lenten season doesn’t just drop us off at the cross, but leads us on, into the garden of His burial, and, there, explodes with the astonishment that our Jesus didn’t stay dead.
The cross was not the end-all.
We are also given Resurrection Power.
BUT, we CAN NOT flippantly just pass the cross on the way to the empty tomb.
We simply must NOT ignore the price that was paid for us.
I think I know why we do…
To stand there in the shadow of the cross, blood dripping onto us, unable to recognize that Jesus is even a man (Isaiah 52:14) is uncomfortable, and awkward, beyond measure.
Love (HESED – see previous blogs) is gory.
Here’s a little history to put an exclamation mark on “uncomfortable.”
Did you know that early Christians found the crucifixion so shocking that they wouldn’t even attempt to talk about, let alone make an image, of this most excruciating form of punishment (a punishment prepared by the Romans solely to shame, humiliate and cause the most pain possible to man) for more than 200 years?
However, since then, what’s been depicted through art, literature, and even movies, has changed countless times (from a serene, weak and scrawny Jesus ultimately to an ornate, but empty cross).
Church historian, Martyn Whittock, tells us that finally, in this most recent decade, modern artists have become more willing to explore the shocking reality of this violent torture endured upon a rough hewn cross.
But, sit and stare at the horror of it?
No! At least not for long…
Yet, we absolutely must do so for Easter to have our full appreciation.
So, this Lent, I’m sitting at the cross even thought it makes me squirm and nauseates me.
I’m reminded, I put Jesus there.
Me!
My sin!
The past of it, the present of it, and the future of it.
My heart hides its secrets in dark corners pretty effectively.
As I sit, I’m reminded that the cross was a product of God-the-Father’s love for me, and Jesus’ joy to die there…
So, I recognize the need to reflect on those hidden secrets that my heart slowly gives up (the ones from which Jesus died to save me); and, I’m reminded there is an unfinished work the church (me!) needs to live out daily:
The unfinished work of spreading God’s HESED for all mankind – even to the ends of the earth.
This HESED-Love-of-GOD (true, steadfast, sacrificial, giving, good and faithful love) captured for us on the cross is exactly what this world needs – even if it is awkward and uncomfortable.
