Greetings to people being transformed!
Today we celebrate the evening of the last supper in our Maundy Thursday service. While we revel in the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross, it would not mean anything if Sunday, and the resurrection did not happen.
The resurrection of Jesus was not just a story or a moment in history for His disciples. This overwhelming event changed their lives, and their worldview. After the resurrection, the disciples became emboldened, and had a completely different understanding of God’s Word and His plans. Their minds were opened to see the world in new ways. They realized how He remained active and could unleash His power at any time. Most of them, though they deserted Jesus in the garden, died a martyr’s death.
In order for a butterfly to exist, a caterpillar’s life must end. The caterpillar is literally broken down to almost nothing so it can be transformed into a whole new being. No matter how badly that caterpillar wants to stay a caterpillar, it cannot deny that it was created for more.
We, or humankind, were created for more. Jesus said, ‘if a person would follow me, let them deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow me’. Sounds like a transformation to me! The apostle Paul said, “I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him … that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection.” (Philippians 3:8-10 NKJV) So, though we may feel initial loss, Jesus transforms us and give us infinitely more – ‘life abundant’.
Do we wish to ‘know Him’? Do we look at everything else as secondary to knowing Him, and the power of His resurrection? May the resurrection not remain just a story or even a myth or legend.
May the reality of the resurrection empower us as we follow Christ!
Blessings,
Pastor Lloyd