Νίκη!

Been paying attention to "March Madness?"  I really haven't.  But there was a pretty big upset last Friday.  I wonder if you caught it?  It wasn't a big game, and it wasn't televised.  Actually, it didn't happen this year.  Or century.  Or even this millennium.  And to be honest, "game" is the wrong word. More like a "one-on-one" match, only the stakes were pretty high.  I doubt there's ever been a basketball game with even a tenth riding on it.

Two opponents in a winner-take-all battle to the death.  Except only one was in danger of death, and they both knew who it would be.  There were two ways it could go: the good guy decides to ignore the set rules and simply defeat the bad guy before starting; or the good guy dies, allowing the bad guy to win.  I was rooting for the good guy.

The good guy died.

WARNING- Incoming Greek Lesson: Νίκη (roughly transliterated: nikae) = victory.  Also name of Greek goddess of victory.  Shoe company "Nike" took this as their name.  "E" at the end much longer in sound, like the "Ei" in Eight.

For those who know, the "good guy" is Christ, and the "bad guy" is Satan.  "But wait," you say, "He won, didn't He?  Isn't that the whole reason for Easter?"  Yeah, it is.  But it wasn't so obvious that first Good Friday.

Everyone was dead sure He had lost.  (Pun intended.)  The Disciples were positive the reason Christ came was to drive out the Romans and restore the Davidic line and kingdom.  The Jewish leaders were positive He was a blasphemer.  The Romans thought He might be part of a new rebellious movement in an already rebellious province.  For the rest of the world, it seemed it was better that Christ had died.

Satan knew the truth.  He would have liked nothing better than to have killed Christ, permanently.  But he knew that wasn't possible.  He knew the very moment Christ stopped breathing that he lost.

Everyone else figured it out Sunday morning.

Χριστός ἀνέστη!  (Christ is Risen!)

This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.
1 John 4:9

Tomorrow is a big day for the Church.  In most churches around the world, we’re going to be celebrating and remembering Christ’s last meal with his disciples before His death.
This day tends to get overshadowed by Good Friday, which often is almost lost in the excitement of Easter.  Just a few days ago we heard of Christ’s arrival in Jerusalem, which was celebrated by hundreds, if not thousands.  A few weeks from now will be Pentecost.  A few months ago we were all excited about the birth of a new King.  I don’t care what anyone says, Christianity is not dull.

What do we have to be so excited about?  All this stuff happened thousands of years ago.  None of it matters today, right?

John and the other New Testament writers say it does matter.  The ‘Disciple Whom Jesus Loved’ simplifies the reason.  God sent Christ, His only Son “that we might live through Him.”

Yes, Christ came as a human.  Yes, He lived the perfect life we can’t.  Yes, He died as a sacrifice for us.  But what difference does that make.  Unless He rose again it means nothing.  There’s two important reasons why He had to come back to life.  One is to defeat Death.  Two is so that we might live.  Unless He lives, we can’t.

Paul says that through baptism we died with Christ.  Unless He came back to life, we cannot either.

But out God is not dead, He’s alive!  And because of that we live too.  We are called now to live through Him.  That means we are to go out into the world and teach people, with out words and actions, about Christ.

So start living.


Heavenly Father,
Thank you for sending your only Son to die for us do that we may live.  Help us to live for You in all we say and do.
Amen

(I wrote this devotion for the Emmanuel Lutheran Youth group on Wednesday, a half hour before the kids showed up.  So, that's why I claim tomorrow is Maundy Thursday, instead of it being yesterday.  Or today.  Or whenever it was in relation to when you're reading this.)

Why do you care?

John 21:22

Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?  You must follow me.”

Before leaving for Home, Jesus took the time to help His friends fish one last time.  After that He treated them to a picnic breakfast.

As had been His method, Jesus took the time to teach the Disciples.  Since time was short, He wanted them to have every bit of important information possible.  He needed them to be ready for the upcoming hardships.

He singles out Peter, who is the unofficial leader of the crew.  The fisherman is loud and has a temper, so Jesus want to be sure he’s in the right spot.  After getting the answer, Jesus moves on.

But Peter has a question.  Jesus said that he’d suffer the same kind of fate that his LORD did.  But what about John?  John was Jesus’ best friend on while on Earth.  What about him?

Peter is genuinely curious, and perhaps a little jealous.  Why does John get the easy way out?  Is John really that well liked, or is he “not good enough” for the ultimate showing of devotion?

Jesus’ response, as usual, is to the point.  “If I wanted him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”  Basically, He calls the stubborn fisherman out.  He acknowledges the frustration Peter feels, but makes sure he understands that it is not important to him.  What does it matter if John lives longer than Peter?  Should it effect Peter’s relationship with Christ?

No.  Now, what if we replace Peter’s name with your name?  And perhaps the issue isn’t who Jesus leaves alive, but a calling He has for you, but not someone else.  Our job is not to worry about what God has for someone else.  Our task is simply to follow Him.

LORD Jesus,

Sometimes we lose sight of our purpose.  We get so concerned with what other’s are doing that we forget to focus on Your plan for us.  Help us to follow You and not be bothered by Your plans for others.

Amen

The war has been won.

I know.  It's been a long time since I've tended the blog.  Busy with life, job searching, not having internet at home, and amateur walrus riding.  Regarding the second, I've sent my name to a number of schools, and even got to speak with a few administrators.  Please prayer that God gives me patience in this, and that I get some interviews.
In the meantime, here's an old devo that's been waiting for the right moment.  Seems like the right one to me.

Romans 8:37

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

There are some verses that people really like to quote.  They end up on book marks, tee shirts, bumper stickers, posters, even as tattoos.  One of my favorites, my confirmation verse actually, is Philippians 4:13: “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

Now, why didn’t I use that verse today?  Well, because I like this one too.  And it seems more appropriate.  Especially when paired with verse 38.  See, verse 38 is the more quoted one.  “For I am convinced that neither death nor life,” blah, blah, blah.  We’ve heard it a lot.  And it is great to be reminded that there is nothing on earth that can keep us from God.  Or more importantly, there is nothing that can keep God from us.

But we are not passive in this spiritual struggle.  “We are more than conquerors...”  Chapter 8 of Romans is all about hardships and struggles.  In some Bibles it is even titled “More Than Conquerors.”

A conqueror is someone who overcomes or takes over something.  But we are told that we are more than that.  Through “Him who loved us,” Christ, we are more than just able to overcome. Try to wrap your head around the idea for a moment.

God doesn’t just give us the strength to barely get by and “overcome.”  No, we are given the most powerful weapons in spiritual warfare, including faith, hope, and love.  When used correctly nothing can stand in our way.  Can we do “everything,” as Philippians suggests?  Yes, and more.  By serving God through serving our neighbor, by putting our faith in Christ only we can “do everything” that has been asked of us.

No matter how hard it looks, because Christ has already won the battle for us.

Savior,

Through Your death on the cross You conquered sin and death.  Your victory is our victory.  Grant us the strength to go out into the world and be victorious in all You have us do.

Amen