Here’s another simple, easy concept that I’ve begun to see from a different angle. I know this isn’t revolutionary, but sometimes when things are said in a certain way, it allows me to see the same old truths in a different light. I was thinking about how the disciples were constantly misunderstanding Jesus and even though they thought they understood, they were completely missing what He was actually saying or doing. They really thought they got it, but they simply couldn’t see what was actually going on. When He drove the money changers out of the Temple and dared them to tear the Temple down and He would rebuild it in three days, they were pretty much lost. But after He died, BAM! that instantly made sense to them and they suddenly seemed to understand everything!
They had lived their whole life seeing things one way (ie – believing the Messiah would come to bring political peace) and when confronted with the truth time and time again, they still couldn’t see correctly. They were constantly jockeying for position and favor, thus missing everything they’d been teaching them! Time and time again they were missing out on what was really going on even though it was staring them in the face. But once He died, they started to remember what He’d told them and everything suddenly made sense.
Then, of course, He appears to them and instantly they’re like completely different people - they finally understand, they’re confident, they’re bold with no fear. They’re completely different from who they were a few days ago. Once they saw things through the context of the cross, it all made sense.
In thinking about this, it made my heart soar with the gratitude that we (as Believers) already have the cross. We don’t have to stumble around trying to guess at what’s really going on. We don’t have to be clueless. He’s already revealed Himself to us and shown us the truth about Himself, about the world, about life, about everything! The disciples weren’t able to see things through the context of the cross until after it happened. But for us, it’s already happened, so there’s no guesswork! We get to see all of life through the cross, which make everything make sense! How blessed are we?? We know that life is not as it appears. We know what’s really going on. We can see the world & life as it really is, without the mask of the superficial daily life. We understand the meaning behind life.
Okay, here’s an infamous lame Jordan analogy….it’s like we’re watching life on a blu-ray player and can see the behind-the-scenes at the same time as we’re actually living life. Hahaha….I know, I know, but that’s the best I got! But I think that makes sense, right? We see the deeper meaning, we see the purpose, we have a better idea of what He’s doing. The disciples just saw the external actions of what Jesus was doing and didn’t really get what He was doing spiritually. We’re prone to do the same thing, except we don’t have to! He’s given us Christ, He’s given us His Word, He’s given us the Holy Spirit. So we aren’t left to our own devices in trying to see life clearly. No, He reveals it to us and guides us along the way.
Without Jesus, you’re only seeing the top layer, the superficial external actions of the world. With Jesus you get all the depth and richness behind it all. We can see the overall context in light of His glory and the purpose of our existence, and that makes it all make sense. Not to say that non-Believers can’t enjoy life deeply. Of course they can! But you won’t be able to enjoy these gifts on the deepest level until you understand their intended purpose as you see it all through the cross and understand that we’re just victims of grace.
Looking at all of life through the cross, makes everything make more sense.
Thinking of it from a fresh perspective again, absolutely blows my heart up with joy and gratitude. We’re so blessed to be living in the time we’re living in! We have the cross, He has revealed Himself, He has given Himself to us! I’m overwhelmed and humbled.
I apologize if I lost ya’ll at any point during this. Sometimes words (& especially emotion-filled words) don’t translate from my heart to paper very well. I think I repeated myself a lot and probably should have gone more in-depth with examples to illustrate how rich and beautiful life is when seen correctly....buuuut...i didn't. Oooh and can I say that it's not really that life itself is so beautiful, rather that He is so beautiful that His overwhelming love for us (and really, His love for Himself) breathes meaning into life by allowing us the joy of knowing, experiencing and serving Him.
or yeah.
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. I just really like this picture. It makes me feel.
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