God and ourselves known in Jesus

I dislike reading any book very long on God and his attributes unless it sooner than later mentions Jesus. For in Jesus is the revelation and glory of God, God's final word to us. We see God in Jesus. As Jesus said, "Whoever sees me, sees the Father." And all Scripture is fulfilled in Jesus. Do we want to know what God is like? Better yet, do we want to know God? Then we need to go to Jesus. Only then, will we know the true God.

This is the only reason I'm a Christian and would remain a Christian, as far as I can tell. And really it's true, period, for us all. For Christianity is Christ, Christ among us, and Christ in us by faith. And Jesus is the way to the Father, the truth and the life. We find our true identity, our true selves only in Jesus. He has become what we are to help us become what he is (also, here) and in that to find our true selves. For only in Jesus can we begin to recover all God created us to be, or better put, who God created us to be by this new creation in Jesus.

I get lost easily and quickly when I begin to lose sight of this. My real identity doesn't lie merely in myself, in simply finding myself. Why? Because I'm a lost sinner in a need of a savior. There is something wrong with me and left to myself that becomes evident in many ways. But in Jesus by God's grace I can begin to find my way to my true identity in him bringing me towards and into a right relationship with God, with myself, with others, and with God's good world and my place and role in it.

And we need to see all of Scripture and indeed, all of life more and more in Jesus. Because of Jesus and his redemptive work for us in his death and resurrection we have the Spirit to give us this resurrection life for the new humanity in Jesus. And we believe that Jesus is Lord by his ascension, even now, so that what we do now by faith can make an eternal difference in others' lives and somehow in creation, in Jesus. And we look forward to Jesus' return when all will finally come together in God's world in perfect harmony and God's will will totally be done on earth as it is in heaven, the two becoming one in Jesus.

So I find meaning for all I am and do in Jesus. Apart from that I am scraping at the bottom of an empty barrel, lost and knowing it. But in Jesus I know that all I am and do does matter, as insignificant as so much of it may seem at this time.

What would you like to share about what "in Jesus" means in your faith and life?

Pentecost Sunday

Tomorrow, or today already for many parts of the world is Pentecost Sunday. This is the day on which we remember the coming and outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the believers after Jesus' resurrection and ascension. Jesus from the Father baptizes the believers with and in the Holy Spirit. It is the birthday I take it of the Church, the Body of Christ in the world. It is the coming of the Spirit to empower God's people to be Jesus' witnesses all over the world. And to be Jesus' hands and feet, everything, Jesus' Body, present for each other, but to the goal of living as children of the light in the Lord which we are.

Of course it's personal: the Spirit is changing us who believe more and more into the resemblance of Jesus. And it's corporate: we're in this together as people of God in Jesus. We build each other up by the gifts the Spirit gives us. And it's missional: not for ourselves and our enjoyment, but to be Jesus by the Spirit, to the world, both individually and corporately as each of us prayerfully does our part in deed and word.

Pentecost Sunday. Oh how we need more of the Spirit in our lives. But let's remember also that we have the Spirit. Let's walk in the Spirit, learning to do so more and more. And be filled with the Spirit, speaking the truth as it is in Jesus, in love. This is why we're here; this is why the Spirit has come.

Be blessed in your worship tomorrow, as many of us and our churches celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit.

What does this day mean to you? What would you like to share with us on this?

Ascension Day

Ascension Day has come and gone, and is barely noticed if at all by us evangelicals. We certainly remember Christmas, Good Friday (where's a special day to remember all Jesus did between Christmas and Good Friday?- that can wait for another post!), Easter, Pentecost. But what about remembering Jesus' ascension?

When Jesus ascended "to the highest heavens" he was then enthroned on the throne of God, at the right hand of God as well. And he rules now, until all his enemies will be put under his feet. When Jesus took the throne of God he became Lord over all. Yes, he was Lord before, and always has been. Yet this was a special enthroning in which all authority in heaven and on earth was given to him. And after his ascension he baptized his people with the Spirit, the gift the Father had promised.

This means alot for us. Yes, in our circumstances. And beyond that for the entire world. We can rest assured that since Jesus is Lord over all, our following of him will make a difference, no matter what obstacles we face. No matter how hard the going is. And that all we do in the Lord is not in vain in the here and now. Why? Because Jesus is not only resurrected, but he is the resurrected, enthroned Lord. This is what Ascension Day is all about. And it's high time we learn more about this and celebrate it and most importantly, live accordingly.

We are resurrection people already, people of the new creation and the kingdom of God already present, in Jesus. We live as those still carrying our cross in following Jesus. But as those who by faith in the risen, ascended Lord, can overcome the world. This is an overcoming that while of the Spirit has to do with our testimony as well as what we do. It is a following that is not afraid of death itself, because Jesus is Lord over all, including death. And a following that will settle for nothing less than God's kingdom to come, and his will to be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

This potentially can help me, as I let this truth sink in. Many passages I could have linked here, and due to lack of time I didn't do so. I do give N.T. Wright credit in helping me think on this recently.

What thoughts would you like to share on this?