Jesus came to give us life. However, the life that Jesus gives is not more of the same life that we already have. The life that Jesus gives us an altogether different life, far richer and fuller than we could ever ask or imagine. The Message paraphrase puts Jesus’ words from John 10:10 this way, “A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”
On the first Sunday of April, we celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus. If you have been around a Christian Church for a while, you probably already know that Jesus dies for our sins on Good Friday and defeated death for us when He rose from the dead on the first Easter Sunday. But what does that mean for us, here and now? The forgiveness of sins and eternal life, while not small gifts, only bring comfort when facing guilt and death. What does Jesus’ resurrection mean for me when I am struggling with other things?
Jesus’ resurrection is a clear sign from God that the old order of things is being overturned. Dead people do not rise from the dead. But Jesus’ resurrection tells us that there is a new sheriff in town.
This new Sheriff says, “You don’t need to perform in order to be loved and accepted. I love and accept you just as you are. Even though your life in this world is crashing down around your ears, do not be worried or afraid for I am with you in this world. I bring My love and grace with me and they will, like yeast in a large bowl of dough, gradually infect and transform the world. Let my love and grace infect your cold, broken heart. Rest in Me and let Me live My life through you. I invite you to resign from your position of being you, place your life in my hands and watch what I will do with it. This is resurrection life—to die to your old desires to control and rest in the new life that I want to give to you. No one but you and Me will see your new life. You won’t see what impact your new life will have on others. Don’t worry about those things. Let them go.”
“But there will come a day when the new life I give you now will be wrapped in your old body made new. And on that day everyone will see your resurrection life through your new resurrection body.”
“In the meantime, live your new resurrection life that I have given you. It will be very good.”
Farewell to Shadowlands 