The Best Big Brother

Do you have a sibling? Even if you don't I want to ask you to try your best to apply this analogy. Maybe think of a close cousin, or friend that seems apart of your family.

What if, you did something really bad. Like, let's say, cheated on your significant other...and your dad found out. What would you do if your father told your brother (or sister) that he was going to put them to death because of what you did. What would your reaction be? I would hope that out of love, your reaction would be "What?! NO! That is outrageous!" You would beg a plead with your dad to retract his judgement. I know that I thought of my little brother and my heart broke at the thought of this happening. But what would you do, if this sibiling agreed? What if this brother or sister of yours said, "Ok. I will die, so that you can be with Dad for the rest of your life." What would you do? Would you try and stop him? Talk him out of it? Offer yourself instead?

Guess what?
This scenerio is exactly what Jesus did for you.

I always heard Jesus being referred to as our "brother" and even read scriptures (Song of Solomon 4:9&10, Hebrews 2, Matthew 12) about it. But for some reason it never clicked why He was our brother...but it TOTALLY makes sense! I'm almost kicking myself because of how simple it is! :D We have the same Father!  Duh.

That dawned on me today at about the same time that I realized exactly how important it is to understand Him as my brother.

The Old Testament was God releasing judgement on His people because of their sin (only because of His jealous love, but that is a whole nother subject!). The New Testament was God releasing judgement on Himself  because of our sin.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..."(John 3:16)
I've known this verse since I was 5 years old (thank you, Awana clubs!)...but it took on a whole new meaning today.

God, my Father, preferred my redemption over the life of His Son, Jesus Christ 

I could end right here and let you pick up all your brain pieces that went everywhere after that revelation bomb...but I won't :)

Jesus took upon Himself all the sins, iniquities, the pains, the imfirmities, the transgressions and all the separation and condemnation of all mankind. Jesus became our sin for us.

Notice that while on the cross, Jesus doesn't even call Him "Father"...
"My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46)
Before God on the cross, Jesus was a criminal who experienced the wrath of God...He was no longer a Son, but a sacrifice.
If the crucifixtion happened today, would we have that cry of "No! That is outrageous!!" in our mouths?

"But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief..." (Isaiah 53:10)
I always got confused by this verse, but now it makes sense. God is so holy, that sin cannot be with Him. That is why Jesus was not a Son for those few hours...He had become sin! And that is why we need the blood of Christ....

The issue of abortion is the issue of innocent blood. In the scriptures it shows us that innocent blood cries out from the ground (Genesis 4:10) But Jesus' blood is the ultimate innocent blood that cries out to us "Forgiven! Forgiven!"
I feel like people, even believers, take this blood for granted. We say or think "Oh it's ok if I do this or that, Jesus forgives me" NO! We have NO IDEA how precious this blood is! I know I had to repent for taking the message of grace and forgivness for granted.

I'll leave you with one last thought

"Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundations of the world." (John 17:24)
You guys, He chose to do it.

He bled. But every drop needed His permission. Each blow needed His consent.

"Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus"

A couple days ago, a YouTube video called "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus" was really popular on Facebook; these are my thoughts on it.

The video? Awesome.
The message? Right on.
The application? Has been missed.

"What if I told you Jesus came to abolish religion?"

What this guy said about religion, false religion, or hypocrisy, whatever you want to call it, has been on my heart for the last year and a half. I'm glad he found a creative, understandable way to get the point across. I fully agree with what he said. I mean, the pharisee's were the religious people of the day, but they were the ones that had Jesus killed. He came to love, not rule. But I think that many people, myself included, just watched the video, "ooohed and aaahed" a little, said "Amen, that's so right!" but then we re-posted, and forgot about it.

"Religion is like spraying perfume on a casket"

Yep. I think this has to be my favorite line he used. But you know what? Just because we liked this video, and agreed with what he said, doesn't mean we have risen above this idea of dead religion. We can nod our heads and Amen! all we want, but until we actually live out what we say we believe, that phrase is true for us as well. Our words are the perfume to our dull spirits that don't see who Jesus really is. We can share this video all we want, but it's just like he said "They would dress up the mummies who were rotting underneath".

"There's a problem when people only know you're a Christian by your Facebook"

^ That should speak for itself. I'm going to ask you a question, not to judge, but to make you think. Did you watch the video, "like" and re-post but then go back to living life as normal? Never giving Jesus a second thought or word throughout the day?

"Acting like a church kid, while addicted to pornography"

No, I'm not perfect. I never have, and I never will claim to be. But honestly, I'm sick of hypocrisy. I have so many people dear to my heart that hate the thought of God, because of hypocrisy. Hypocrisy, put simply, is re-posting that video, saying Yes and Amen! and then going back to live a life that does not represent Jesus.
Yeah, I make mistakes, but my whole goal in life is to show Jesus in such away that people would desire to run to Him, not away from Him. And when you do this in your secret life, like not watching pornography even when nobody else knows it's happening, people will see the difference in you.

"I want that man"

If we were to truly understand what this video was about, we would understand that following Christ is about a relationship. A literal fellowship with the Creator of the universe. If we want people to know that Jesus and religion are on opposite teams, we need to take the step to join His team. He died, because He wanted you with Him, not because He had to or because "it is written". But because He loves you, it's as simple as that. Jesus is the kindest, most gentle, most joyful, funniest, bravest, sweetest person I know, and my heart's desire is for everyone to get that too. But you won't understand that by hearing someone else talk about it. Get off Facebook, and go spend some time with Him (I hope you know that I'm talking to myself too!). You know your best friend because you listen and talk with them. Let Him show you who He is...it's not something you can do all by yourself. It's a two way street, not a one way road. Christianity might not have been meant to be your typical religion, but it was meant for way much more than a yes and amen! It's a lifestyle, a heart posture, a kind of love this world cannot fathom.

So what I'm saying is, posting, re-posting, sharing...whatever. If we don't live it out, we are just as dead as this religion that we are fighting.

"When He said it is finished, I believe He meant it"