On October 21, 2013 a student walked into the Sparks Middle School in Nevada and opened fire killing a teacher and wounding several students. The teacher was a 45 year old veteran named Michael Landsberry. Now, admittedly this happened before at other schools albeit with many more numbers of killed and wounded. But there is something special here. This just wasn't just a murder--this was a sacrifice.
In today's day and age, we see sacrifice as something that is done to another. So when I write that Mr. Landsberry was a sacrifice, it can be perceived in a negative way. To be sure, sacrifice implies death which is always a negative thing. But the truth is this: when this student walked into the school and started shooting, everyone ran away from it...except Mr. Landsberry. Instead, he went TOWARDS the student, trying to give the student a chance of surrendering. Sadly, Mr. Landsberry was shot and killed which was then followed shortly by the student turning the gun upon himself. But again there was something special here. Mr. Landsberry, being a veteran, surely knew the possible outcome of confronting the student with a gun. But he sacrificed himself that the student and others would live.
Looking at this story, I couldn't help but notice that this is very reminiscent of Jesus and what He came to earth to do. He could've ran the other way. He could have ignored us. He could have destroyed everything and start over. But He didn't. He ran. TOWARD the very ones who would murder Him. Towards the very ones who would reject Him. Towards the very ones who would hate Him. Towards the very ones who call Him a devil. But there is something special here. He didn't even hesitate. He didn't even flinch. He just...came. Came to our defense. Came to our aid.
Mr. Landsberry, unfortunately, over time will be forgotten. But he will not be forgotten by those whom he impacted by his unselfishness. Jesus, however, still remains largely remembered. Even after 2000 years. Why? Because He impacted the whole world. And His death? Well, unlike Mr. Landsberry, it was followed by a resurrection. And He is coming. Again. Coming again? Yes! Why?
Because He can't bear to be be without us. He is coming. To save us fully. To take us home. To live with Him forever.
There is something special here.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Only Christ
As I'm writing this, I'm sitting at my desk in my office at church on the verge of starting a series of meetings on the Bible that will last 27 presentations. They're called "Revelation of Hope" and it couldn't be happening at a more opportune time.
At this time, there is instability in the Middle East with Syria killing their own people, our economy is still out of whack with people having to live consistently on unemployment, and to make matters worse...our government has shut down. Everyone is wondering how to fix this and that as well as asking, "Is there anything I can even trust anymore?"
Yes there is. Only Christ.
You see, only Christ has sacrificed who He was to be made in the same flesh and bone we have.
Only Christ has promised a permanent--eternal--solution to everything that is wrong.
Only Christ has died for us so that we can be there.
I wonder if we really understand that last one. HE died so that WE wouldn't have to. But the story doesn't end there. If He simply died for our sins only and then was put in tomb forever more...where would our reward be? If He died so that we could die good...it's not exactly something to get excited about.
But there's something else. Christians don't have hope because Christ died...Christians have hope because He died and was raised to life again! Who else has been able to accomplish the fact that Jesus Himself made:
At this time, there is instability in the Middle East with Syria killing their own people, our economy is still out of whack with people having to live consistently on unemployment, and to make matters worse...our government has shut down. Everyone is wondering how to fix this and that as well as asking, "Is there anything I can even trust anymore?"
Yes there is. Only Christ.
You see, only Christ has sacrificed who He was to be made in the same flesh and bone we have.
Only Christ has promised a permanent--eternal--solution to everything that is wrong.
Only Christ has died for us so that we can be there.
I wonder if we really understand that last one. HE died so that WE wouldn't have to. But the story doesn't end there. If He simply died for our sins only and then was put in tomb forever more...where would our reward be? If He died so that we could die good...it's not exactly something to get excited about.
But there's something else. Christians don't have hope because Christ died...Christians have hope because He died and was raised to life again! Who else has been able to accomplish the fact that Jesus Himself made:
John 10:17 “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again."
Who else has done this? Who else has impacted the world in such a way? Who else changed the very flow of history to such a degree that time itself is measured by time before Him and time after Him? Who else has stood in our place and taken what we deserve only to give us what He deserves? Who else can love like this?
Only Christ.
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