The HS Guys small group watched The Passion of the Christ last night.  No, I do not write that to make you feel like you missed out on something if you are not a part of that group.  I write it because it’s been a LONG time since I have seen that movie.

It’s amazing how much I had forgotten about that movie.  It’s amazing how difficult a movie it is to watch.  It’s amazing to realize that Hollywood has standards and the real flogging and crucifixion very well may have been worse than what was depicted on the screen.

Following the movie, one of the guys tweeted, “Passion of the Christ #gamechanger”.  There is a lot of truth in that statement.  Seeing an account of what our Lord went through really should be a game changer.  It is so much worse than we can ever imagine.  And to realize that the love of God made Him go through all of this for ME, well there really are NO words to respond to that.

There are no words to respond, but a response is required.  We need to live differently.  What God did for us is a game changer.  So, how are you changing your life?

“When the crowd had come together, Pilate asked them, “Whom would you like me to release to you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ?” – Matthew 27: 17Matthew 27: 17
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
17 So when the crowd came together, Pilate asked them, “Which prisoner do you want me to set free? Do you want Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”

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This was the first year that I ever picked up on the fact that Barabbas was also a Jesus.  Even in my three years of seminary, not once was this fact taught or talked about.  So now I was left to face the implications of this.  In 24 Hours That Changed the World, Adam Hamilton highlighted this fact.  Barabbas was a “messiah” of sorts.  He was leading a rebellion agains the people of Rome.  He probably had people believing that he was the chosen one of God.  In a lot of ways, Barabbas was the very thing that people were falsely accusing Jesus of being.

And then we have Jesus the Christ.  The Chosen One of God whose method was love, peace, and forgiveness.  His method was not a rebellion, rather his method was a revolution of love.  It was not about overthrowing a government.  His revolution was about overthrowing the bonds of sin that keep each and every one of us apart from God.

And still the crowd chanted for the crucifixion of Jesus and for the release of Barabbas.

Who are we chanting for?  Which messiah are we truly following?  Do we follow the false messiahs of action and selfishness similar to Barabbas?  Or do we follow the one and true Messiah who preached that we should live as revolutionaries of love, hope, peace, and forgiveness?

Luke 22: 60-62Luke 22: 60-62
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
60 Peter replied, “I don't know what you are talking about!” Right then, while Peter was still speaking, a rooster crowed. ⁶¹ The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered that the Lord had said, “Before a rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will say three times that you don't know me.” ⁶² Then Peter went out and cried hard.

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What exactly was the look that Jesus gave to Peter?  Was it one of anger?  One of love?  One of disappointment?

Whatever the look was, it was a look that drove Peter to weep.  He was heart broken.  He realized in that moment that not only did he not live up to his word; he realized that Jesus heard every word that he was saying.

We too are like Peter.  So often we think that we can get away with things, but guess what my friends?  We cannot.

We may be standing there denying Christ.  We are doing it with our actions.  We are doing it with our words.  We are doing it with our thoughts.  And the entire time Jesus is standing there watching, listening, thinking.

And He’s looking at us.  Perhaps it is with a look of disappointment.  Perhaps it is with a giant smile on His face.  But no matter what, the look Christ is giving us, is a look of love.  It is a look of hope.  It is a look of forgiveness.

Today take some time and look upon Jesus as He is looking at you in love, in hope, in peace, and in forgiveness.

“Now all of this took place so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled: Look!  A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will call him, Emmanuel.  (Emmanuel means ‘God with us.’)” – Matthew 1: 22-23Matthew 1: 22-23
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
22 So the Lord's promise came true, just as the prophet had said, ²³ . “A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.”

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I’ve read this passage a million times.  Okay, maybe I exaggerate, but I can easily tell you that Emmanuel means God With Us; however, as I read it this morning, I started to really let these words seep in.  I started to ask about what it means that God is with us.

And as I thought about this, I was blown away by what this is saying.  God is WITH me.  He is really in the midst of my life with me.  I’ve known this fact for awhile, or at least I’ve said it’s something I believe, but I really felt this truth this morning.

God is here.  When I am lying in bed at night going over a list of worries and concerns, God is with me.  When I am playing with my child and having the time of my life, God is right there playing with us.  When my heart is breaking because I’ve had to discipline my child, God is breaking over the sadness but proud that I can stand firm and correct to the right behavior.  When I am sad, God is handing me a box of Kleenex.  When I’m laughing at a lame pun, God is right there probably rolling His eyes or chuckling along with me.  When I am figuring out how to bring God’s love to others, God is throwing out ideas during the brainstorm.

Yes, friends, God is with us.  It’s taken me twenty-nine years to really begin to feel like I’m understanding this concept.  As chaos surrounds us in the world, I need to stop and realize that God is standing there with me.  He is guiding me.  He is pointing out a direction.  He’s trying to show me a path in the midst of the insanity.  I may not be paying attention.  I may have my sights set so far away from Him that I cannot realize He is here; but the good news this Advent is, God is with me.  And God is with you.   And God is with us all!

“If only you would tear open the heavens and come down!  Mountains would quake before you like fire igniting brushwood or making water boil.  If you would make your name known to your enemies, the nations would tremble in your presence.”  Isaiah 64:1-2Isaiah 64:1-2
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
64 ¹ Rip the heavens apart! Come down, Lord; make the mountains tremble. ² Be a spark that starts a fire causing water to boil. m Be ... boil: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. Then your enemies will know who you are; all nations will tremble because you are nearby.

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I’ve been planning on doing some Advent reflections for awhile, but I guess that just hasn’t happened.  This text was used this past Sunday during the lighting of the Advent wreath, and I really wanted to share some thoughts about it.

This is one of the most beautiful prayers that I think any of us could be praying!  The prayer that God would tear open the heavens and come down into our world.  All around us we see examples of the places where we prevent God from going.  We complain about the godlessness of the world.  We complain about the way things our going in our political realm.  We complain about how things are going with our families.  We complain about how things are going with our churches.

Well, instead of complaining about life in these difficult times, maybe all of us need to band together and begin praying this Psalm.  We need to pray and believe that God is going to tear things open and come down.  He already did that with the birth of Christ, and ever since, Christ has been trying to get involved in every aspect of our world.  We are the ones keeping Him out!

So let’s stop complaining and focusing on all of the doom and gloom.  Let’s begin praying for God to tear open our lives, our schools, our families, our world and our churches.  Let’s begin praying that He enters our lives in such intense and amazing ways that the only thing we can do is stand amazed and praise Him.

Amen.