The First Step to Triumph.
I don't know when it began but it was long ago, probably before God created man and maybe before He created the universe. No time frame is given. An angel, a mere created thing, named Lucifer challenged God. God is a cosmic tyrant. God is a bully. We can do fine without him in charge. God could have snuffed Lucifer out but instead He took the challenge, a challenge that was played out here in our physical world.
God is both absolute love and absolute justice. The rebels say that absolute love and absolute justice cannot co-exist in one being; love only forgives and justice only punishes. He had to be one or the other. The cross answered that dilemma. At the cross absolute love and absolute justice meet and become one. That is part of the meaning of the cross.
Satan is running out of options as the world that he is (temporarily) master of is collapsing around him. God's vindication is approaching. The cross appeared to be a disastrous and tragic defeat but was in fact the first step to absolute triumph. It appeared that all was lost but it was only the start of God's answer to Lucifer/Satan.
Here are two videos of Christian musicians describing the horror and hidden triumph of that day. (Both of which were recorded in the 1980s)
It Is Finished by Petra
And also here is Too Small a Price from Don Francisco.
One of the saddest things is reading blogs by "modern Christians" who criticized Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ as a sadistic blood bath. (Mel Gibson is by no means a perfect man, but that movie was the achievement of a lifetime.) That so-called bloodbath is at the heart of our faith. It was the end result of all sin and it showed our sin in all its true horror. When he was being challenged for Antisemitism, Mr Gibson was asked "Who crucified Jesus?" and he truthfully answered "I did." That is the only correct answer and it is the answer for all of us as well. Every single man and woman who ever lived (except Jesus Himself of course) crucified Jesus; He is the only true victim of human history and He is the only true victor, as the world saw a bit later.
God is both absolute love and absolute justice. The rebels say that absolute love and absolute justice cannot co-exist in one being; love only forgives and justice only punishes. He had to be one or the other. The cross answered that dilemma. At the cross absolute love and absolute justice meet and become one. That is part of the meaning of the cross.
Satan is running out of options as the world that he is (temporarily) master of is collapsing around him. God's vindication is approaching. The cross appeared to be a disastrous and tragic defeat but was in fact the first step to absolute triumph. It appeared that all was lost but it was only the start of God's answer to Lucifer/Satan.
Here are two videos of Christian musicians describing the horror and hidden triumph of that day. (Both of which were recorded in the 1980s)
It Is Finished by Petra
And also here is Too Small a Price from Don Francisco.
One of the saddest things is reading blogs by "modern Christians" who criticized Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ as a sadistic blood bath. (Mel Gibson is by no means a perfect man, but that movie was the achievement of a lifetime.) That so-called bloodbath is at the heart of our faith. It was the end result of all sin and it showed our sin in all its true horror. When he was being challenged for Antisemitism, Mr Gibson was asked "Who crucified Jesus?" and he truthfully answered "I did." That is the only correct answer and it is the answer for all of us as well. Every single man and woman who ever lived (except Jesus Himself of course) crucified Jesus; He is the only true victim of human history and He is the only true victor, as the world saw a bit later.
posted by shoprat at 10:13 AM
12 Comments:
Hadn't heard from Petra in a long time. Loved it.
Watch my blog on Sunday for another Don Francisco number.
Gibson's film is often critisized for being "too graphic," but in my opinion it represented only the tip of the iceberg.
I think The Passion was realistic and, therefore, so important.....we didn't need a movie to have faith, or even to see what He suffered, but it's not a bad reminder from time to time to see it and absorb it.
"I did." Exactly.
The Passion WAS a sadistic bloodbath. What was lacking in Gibson's film, to me, was context. There was scarce little in it that I personally found to be inspiring or uplifting. Just a few scenes that left me longing for the REAL Jesus and that is love. It, to me, truly was a pornographic fetishization of our Lord, and I was truly offended by it. I'm sure SR, that by now you know that it takes a lot to offend me.
"Satan is running out of options as the world that he is (temporarily) master of is collapsing around him. God's vindication is approaching. "
You are not seriously one of those end timers, who think that we are right around the corner from the end of the world, are you?
If you really want to see how God works, read page K-1 of the 4-11-09 Free Press.
What's on that page, or is there a way to find K-1 online?
http://www.freep.com/article/20090411/FEATURES01/904110311/Nurse+s+quick+thinking+saved+life+of+man+dying+on+roadside
I am far, far, far, far, far from perfect. My personal perfection is so far over the horizon as to be unphotographable.
Humanity is what it is. When will Jesus return? No one knows; but I suspect one thing: I look about and think, "It's time for another ark. I sense a storm coming."
BZ
But I'll those same "modern Christians" went to see Saw and Saw II and found it highly entertaining.
Happy Easter, Shoprat!
Dittos to what Wordsmith said. Happy Easter Shoprat!
You're right that the battle between good and evil is approaching a tipping point. All hell could break loose at any moment.
If we had strong leadership in our nation we might be able to stave off the worst of it. Sadly, we do not have such leadership.
Thank you for this entire post - shoprat---
Gibson's Passion...said it like it is..that's tough for some to take...the truth is tough...
Hope your Easter was blessed....
C-CS
Happy Easter, Shoprat.
I agree with you. The Passion was probably closer to the way it really was than any movie ever made. Gibson did an outstanding job on it. There was plenty of love depicted in it... love that Jesus has for us! I believe that's the point. :)
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