The fact that today was meant to be ‘the end of the world / judgement day’, has certainly added to the imagination, as well as some ideas I have been mulling this last week which have largely been stimulated by recent conversations, gatherings and comments from my blog and others.
The question is why do some have such a distorted view of God that they are more concerned with who gets ‘into heaven’ and who ‘is out’, than with God himself.
These are some of the thoughts I have had – naturally I am very open to correction, constructive criticism and conversation (Wow – those are all C’s! J)
Firstly, I wonder if, because we live in societies of injustice, corruption, murder and mayhem we feel this overwhelming desire for justice. I don’t think there is anything wrong with that – I do think there is something wrong with making our way of seeking justice the way we think God should do it.
Justice to us is seeking revenge and retribution – whereas justice to God seeks to redeem and reconcile.
His wrath, his judgement on sin was taken on our behalf by Christ to redeem us and reconcile us to himself. Christ was interceding on our behalf on the cross, making a way for us, running interference on our behalf, so that it would be possible for all people to once again have a relationship with the God of love, mercy, grace and justice.
Which brings me to my second point:
Is it possible that Scripture could have been misunderstood by us? I’m thinking of texts that mention that Jesus is at the right hand of the Father interceding for us / on our behalf.
Is it possible that some may see a picture of Jesus editing our prayers and making them acceptable to a critical and angry God just waiting to zap us for not measuring up? Or Jesus begging God to listen and ‘be nice’?
What about this one in 1 Timothy 2:1-6:
3 …This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people.
- What if he did all the mediating / interceding that was necessary on The Cross?
- The Cross takes away the need for any further mediator or intercessor between us and God.
- The Cross restores our relationship with the Father.
The Cross is ongoing, it is eternal and it is forever interceding on behalf of all who desire reconciliation with the Father, because it is through the work of the Cross that nothing can separate us from the Father.
On the Cross, the curtain was torn and the Holy of Holies became a place that all people could choose to enter and find forgiveness, acceptance and love in the presence of the Father.
Like I said…. Merely musings, but next time you pray “in Jesus’ name’ at the end of your prayer and in your mind perhaps find yourself thinking that he is there editing and making it acceptable to God – know this: that because of the Cross you can bring your deepest fears, angers, anxieties, and frustrations as well as you greatest joys to God yourself, without the fear of his disapproving eye – because you are the apple of his eye.
He loves you.
He accepts you.
The Cross and Resurrection are proof.
What else can he do to show you?
I think you know my thoughts on this but in case not: I agree with your musings - I have long had issues around the way the verse in Hebrews (Jesus making intercession for us before God) has been taught.
ReplyDeleteIn the first place, it makes Jesus "on our side" kind of protecting us from God the Father who is still mad with us.
Which makes them not one - unthinkable in the Godhead.
A sort of 'good cop, bad cop' situation as someone put it.
But the verse is there
So what to make of it?
Here is a thought: "to intercede" can also mean "to stand in the gap for" - dunno about you, but I think that nails it.
That is exactly what Jesus Christ has done at Calvary.
Once and for all.
Great post, Lg.
A point that really needs air, in my view.
Allie.. Yes, I remember running this past you - but I am very happy that you have added to it as well! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteBut do people even believe in the whole thing with people saying that the world will come to an end at a certain day, is it not just a media hype, something they found if funny to write about just because there was nothing else in pipeline? Problem is that even God has been dragged into the whole media hype. Very disturbing, if you ask me.
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