How In The World Does Any of This Make Sense?

 

I have asked myself questions like this for many years. We would be kidding ourselves if we just piously sat here and stated for the world around that we have never doubted or struggled with the events that have unfolded in our bibles over the last few weeks. I have heard many a well meaning church goer say that "You're not supposed to question..." Like, somehow, that makes us more righteous because we just accept it all don't have anything we want to know more about or cannot understand so we feel the need to reach out and seek more depth and breadth to what this whole matter was about. 

Jesus. The Son of God. God's only on. The Begotten. The Son of Man. A servant. A messenger. A prophet. A King. A rabbi. The One on who all the prophecy of the Old Testament finds it's fulfillment. The Messiah. The one who will save His people from their sins. The Great Physician. The one where we find all the we need and all we will ever want. He is our All in All. And, yet, maybe you have sat there weaving through the pages and just thinking... How? Why? What?

I was 14 when I went through church membership class in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). I grew up in this local congregation in my hometown. Like many kids, we were put through church membership class whether we wanted to or not at this age. It was the social norm of the time. We went through about 8 weeks of study and training. There was a green workbook that is now lost to me forever. I'd give anything to see the inside of that book again. I have sworn in the past that I never really learned what I need to know about following Christ in that class. Truly, my focus was not on the class, but who was in the class. A girl named Nicole Winely in my grade had my eye and my attention. I don't remember anything about what we learned. I do remember making an idiot out of myself trying to grab her heart. What an absolute nitwit I was. We were in 8th grade at the time. She wanted nothing to do with me. I couldn't see it. How she put up with my ridiculous hormones is beyond my understanding as I look back through time at that young muttonhead. If only I had the chance to speak to him. Talk to him about what was really important. Maybe the time would have gone differently. 

The class was 6 to 8 students that year, I believe. Each one of us made it through the workbook. Each one of us took a trip to College of the Bible in Kentucky where a lot of Disciple types end up going to school for the ministry. The Campbell brothers who founded the Disciples church in the late 1700's were from that area. On Easter morning, each one of us got into a white robe and went down in the baptismal font, one at time to meet our pastor, the Rev Reid Miller, who recited our full names and "in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" he leaned us backwards and lifted our wet heads up to the air again. The worship service would continue as all the baptism participants got dry the best we could, got changed back into our clothes and headed back into the service again. By now, the service was ready to wrap up. The way we ended it was to line up on the steps going up to the large platform in this round sanctuary. Two aisles split the room into three seating sections. A large group of spectators watched as Pastor Miller came down the row to each one of us, asking us the most important question any 14 would hear. 

"So and So, do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God?"

I think there was more to the question that just that simple statement, but for the life of me I don't recall what else Dr. Miller said that morning. What I do recall was the layout of our sanctuary. What I missed or can't recall about what we learned in the actual classes seemed to be somehow explained in the stained glass windows circling the room. To the west was a huge mural of Jesus kneeling in the Garden of Gethsemane. many a morning I sat and looked upon that to my left as I took in the morning service.
In the balcony were two more presentments. To the Southwest, was a classic depiction of Jesus knocking on the door. One of the best descriptions I have ever laid eyes on. The other is one I can't say I have seen anywhere else. To the Southeast, in that balcony, is a large stained glass picture of angel with two figures we assume are women, outside an empty tomb. I was on the end of the row of students that day. I was the last one to be approached that morning. When Rev Miller came to me and asked the great question, I recall looking upon that southeastern representation above us all that morning. I saw the angel, I truly cannot describe what came over me. I know how I felt. I couldn't describe to you then or help anyone understand who this Jesus was. There was no explanation I could give to define what to know Jesus as your Lord and Savior. But, I'm being asked if I believe if Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God - what does that mean? I am drawing it all out dramatic effect. You need to understand this all happened in a matter of a few seconds. As I gazed on that angelic depiction, I said "Yes". Sunlight came pouring through the balcony right then. I recall hearing a woman gasp. It was like I was being given approval for my answer. I didn't have to understand. I didn't have to be able to define it all. 

The only thing I needed was to be able to say "I believe." 

If that all you can do after reading the miraculous events we share on this weekend, then I'd say that's enough. God is happy. Be happy in Him. 

And, when you're gathered around a table later today with grumpy ol Uncle Roger or Aunt Betty and you get that eyeball of discontent when the Sunday service comes up for conversation, just do what many other have done. Say, "God loves you too." Don't engage in the argument or partake in the grump fest that might ensue. Just share the love you know to be true. Let that be enough. 

May God bless you richly on this day. 

Go forth and be God's people everywhere. 

J