Sunrise in Ethiopia
I woke up around 3:45 a.m. this morning. Oh the fun of jet lag, not to mentioned recovering from being extremely sick. I'm going on day 5 since I started feeling yucky. I am definitely still on the mend and 12 lbs. lighter (not complaining about that part). Despite the illness, my trip to Ethiopia was SO good. I remember 2 years ago it took me several days to recover (and I wasn't even sick that time). I am hoping to be all better and back to sleeping full nights by the end of this coming week.
One thing nice about being up so early is the quiet house. In being gone for 13 days I had forgotten how loud my children can be :-) As I laid there this morning I was reflecting on Easter. Easter is the one Sunday of the year where we don't go to church. My husband's extended family (on his mom's side) get together at his Aunt and Uncle's house about 90 minutes away. We have always chosen to skip church and spend the day with family. I find it ironic that as a Christian I miss Easter Sunday service every year. Easter is about Jesus rising from the dead, the whole point of Christianity. I certainly don't need to be in church on Easter and love seeing family so it's not a big deal. I do believe that God looks at our hearts and intentions, it's not about a checklist and doing everything perfectly, thank God! The bottom line of Christianity is grace, which sets it apart from every other religion.
I've gone to church my whole life and as a child/teenager I remember wondering why Jesus dying on a cross meant my sins could be forgiven, not to mention wondering why sin so offended God! It wasn't until I was older and began to really understand the Bible as one big book, that it finally all made sense. To really understand you have to read and study the history of the Jewish people a.k.a. the Old Testament (the first 39 books of the Bible). After all, Jesus was Jewish and the religious leaders of the day, the Pharisees, were the ones who crucified Him. There is so much beauty and symbolism in the Jewish feasts, especially the Passover and it's correlation to the death of Jesus. The Passover celebration is a time of remembering the final plague that gave the Jewish people their freedom from slavery. The angel of death passed over Egypt and all firstborn died. The only homes spared were the ones with blood on the top and sides of the door frame, not just any blood but blood from a perfect male lamb had to be spilled and used. At the time Jesus died, the Jewish people were once again celebrating the Passover feast/celebration. Jesus died on the day that the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed. The eyewitness accounts say he died at 3 p.m., the exact time the Passover lamb was to be killed. He was the perfect lamb. Oh I could go on and on, the symbolism is fascinating. A further study of the Jewish tabernacle is exciting stuff. A veil that separated the people from God tore from top to bottom at the moment Jesus died. It's worth studying about.
I would say if someone doesn't believe in God then a whole other discussion needs to happen but if a person believes in God and the idea of spiritual things then studying the Bible makes complete sense. Of all major religions, Christianity has significantly impacted history. Jesus divided time (B.C. to A.D.) for heaven's sake :-) I think enough evidence is present that a man named Jesus existed and turned the world upside down! I personally think everyone should take a look at Him and understand what He claimed. I know many, many wonderful people who believe in God but don't give Jesus much thought. I always say, take a look, in the end if you still hold to the same ideas, I'll still be your friend but please, please take the time to study the Bible and understand what Jesus is all about. Jesus shouldn't be judged based on the history of the church, religion or even individuals (after all, we are imperfect human beings), He should be viewed on His own merit.
Another thing I often hear is, "Those damn Christians think they have the only way to God." Again, a study of what Jesus claimed will clear things up. He said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father (God) but through me." I know that makes a lot of people mad. I love Bono's response to the question about if Jesus was really God incarnate, was He was true Messiah, the promised one,
"No, it's not farfetched to me. Look, the secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: he was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of other great prophets, be they Elijah, Muhammad, Buddha, or Confucius. But actually Christ doesn't allow you that. He doesn't let you off that hook. Christ says:No. I'm not saying I'm a teacher, don't call me teacher. I'm not saying I'm a prophet. I'm saying: "I'm the Messiah." I'm saying: "I am God incarnate." And people say: No, no, please, just be a prophet. A prophet, we can take. You're a bit eccentric. We've had John the Baptist eating locusts and wild honey, we can handle that. But don't mention the "M" word! Because, you know, we're gonna have to crucify you. And he goes: No, no. I know you're expecting me to come back with an army, and set you free from these creeps, but actually I am the Messiah. At this point, everyone starts staring at their shoes, and says:Oh, my God, he's gonna keep saying this. So what you're left with is: either Christ was who He said He was—the Messiah—or a complete nutcase. I mean, we're talking nutcase on the level of Charles Manson. This man was like some of the people we've been talking about earlier. This man was strapping himself to a bomb, and had "King of the Jews" on his head, and, as they were putting him up on the Cross, was going: OK, martyrdom, here we go. Bring on the pain! I can take it. I'm not joking here. The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside-down by a nutcase, for me, that's farfetched …" (to read full article click here)
God incarnate or a nutcase...love that! I believe Jesus was God incarnate, God in the flesh, the perfect lamb, the only one who could reconcile me to God. It can be a bit confusing without a deeper study. I am often puzzled at people who want to believe in Jesus but not hold to His claims that He is the only way to God. It seems pointless to believe in Jesus and not fully take in everything He claimed. If that means I am one of those "damn Christians", so be it! I am not going to believe in something and not fully throw myself into it :-)
For further study I recommend the Bible (duh!) but it can be a bit overwhelming. The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus and The Story are 2 great Bible overviews. I would recommend reading them before jumping into the entire Bible, it will give you a good framework.
I hope and pray that you enjoy this wonderful Easter Sunday and by all means, have a Cadbury Creme Egg, after all, God created sugar and chocolate :-)
Well said, Ingrid.
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