|
|
|
 Agony of DefeatI noticed that the University of Minnesota Bookstore still has Border Battle shirts for sale. These shirts feature two helmets, that of the Gophers and the other of the Wisconsin Badgers. After the agony of defeat on Saturday I wondered if they had reduced the prices or not. I mean what Minnesota fan was going to buy it now? And if you bought it ahead of time, is it a shirt that a Gopher fan would wear proudly? Isn’t it just a reminder of a broken heart? Leaving football I wonder if the Romans looked at the early Christians the same way. I mean these people were going everywhere “wearing t-shirts” that celebrated the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. These people joyfully proclaimed this message all over the empire. What were they thinking? Isn’t the cross the biggest defeat ever? If this man was a savior it sure seems odd, he couldn’t even save himself. He was executed, a convicted criminal under Roman law.
Not much has changed in 2,000 years. People still think Christians are crazy. That God would become a human being…that’s insane even if there is a god. That God would save us from suffering and death by suffering and dying himself…why didn’t he just give us penicillin? That on the cross is the answer to human emptiness, futility and guilt…no way! If you’ve heard this or even felt it before you’re not alone. Peter thought the same way! The cross...no way. He felt that way until Jesus went to the cross, rose from the dead…then he saw that the cross wasn’t a defeat but the greatest victory ever! The victory of God’s grace and power and love! It certainly is so much better than the agony of defeat!
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” --Matthew 16:21-22
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:23-24
|
