A Love We Don't Expect

look for the quick fix, the easy way out, the stroll down easy street. Following God’s way of life means nothing less than dying to self. Jesus turned and looked at his disciples so they all knew the rebuke was for them as well. He [Jesus] rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” (Mark 8:33)

Jesus called the crowd to listen too. He wanted them all to hear. He said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.” (Mark 8:34-35) Again, these probably were not the words that the crowd expected to hear. People wanted to hear selections from “Chicken soup for the Israelite Soul.” They didn’t want to hear that the way to follow God’s desire is to give whatever it takes, even giving up your old selfish ways of thinking and living.

As we look back at this event, almost two thousand years later, we know the price that Jesus paid to show us God’s love. Jesus’ love for us took him all the way to Calvary’s cross. Jesus died for what he believed in. The radical nature of Jesus’ message took him all the way to the grave. Many people expect that the story would stop there. But not for God.

Jesus came back from the dead, surprising the Roman guards, the Jewish authorities, and even the disciples. Into the midst of the disciples’ grief came an interruption, a break in. Surprise! Jesus loves you so much that not even death could keep him away. Jesus came back, and keeps coming back, bringing the message of God’s radical, unconditional love for all, not just for the privileged or entitled or deserving.

So here we are, sitting in a mostly comfortable pew on Sunday morning. What do we expect Jesus to do today? Perhaps we don’t even realize that Jesus is here with us. Maybe we can see why Jesus would share his love with someone else. After all, they don’t have a past like mine. They haven’t made the mistakes that I’ve made. Why would Jesus care for me?

Once again, Jesus does the unexpected. Jesus rose from the grave, and lives within us, to show us that God’s unconditional love even applies to us. God’s love for us is greater that anything than we can do. God’s love is stronger than our mistakes. God’s desire to be connected to us is greater than whatever we do to push God away. Jesus meets us when we least expect it, to show us that yes, we are beloved children of God.
Let us pray. Almighty God, your Son, Jesus Christ, was lifted high upon the cross so that he might draw the whole world to himself. Grant that we who glory in his death for our salvation may also glory in his call to take up our cross and follow him; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.