the gospel in miniature

I came across this as I continue a short Theology course on CARM.org. It was written by Luther, and just unravels the gold on one of the most well-known and familiar verses on the Bible. Instead of associating John 3:16 with banners at football matches and men on street corners with sandwich board signs, think of this:

“God…" …The greatest Lover
“So loved…" …The greatest degree
“The world…" …The greatest number
“That He gave…" …The greatest act
“His only begotten Son…" …The greatest Gift
“That whosoever…" …The greatest invitation
“Believeth…" …The greatest simplicity
“In Him…" …The greatest Person
“Should not perish…" …The greatest deliverance
“But…" …The greatest difference
“Have…" …The greatest certainty
“Everlasting Life…" …The greatest possession

Psalm 22

What a Psalm!

It's so nice to hear such a familiar New Testament message told so beautifully in the Old Testament. It's the gospel that the OT points forward to...

Beginning with Jesus crying out in agony and feeling almost despondent on the cross, cut off from life, that is, the Father (v1). The Son pleads with the Father (v2), but He does not answer, but still the Father is holy and worthy to be trusted (v3-5).

He's like a worm! A worm! The Son of God - God himself- is treated as if a worm. Bare and made physically and emotionally empty. Scorned and despised. Mocked. (v6-9)

Here comes the prophecy: surrounded, bones out of joint (v14), as brittle as dried up pottery, dying. Pierced hands and feet, so skinny that his bones can be counted and his garments divided among the executioners. Yet still, his trust, reliance and dependence is unwaveringly caught on the Father to rescue him (v19-21).

As unexpected as it might be for a man to rise from death, comes the joy of the next few verses (v22-24). Something's happened. The affliction's over, he's made alive, free from the pain, now praising the Father's name!

Verses 27-31: He's been made King over the whole Earth, everybody needs to turn to Him and He welcomes all who come. He will be judge (v29). His story, his achievement, his salvation, will be told to the ends of the Earth "that he has DONE IT!"

Reject the Caricature

"Most people have not rejected Christianity. They have rejected a caricature"
Arnold Toynbee, a historian

"Genuine paper currency always seems to have its counterfeit"
Jack Durkee, author

------------

A simple plan for a clear take on Christianity:

1. Read the Gospel of John

2. Write down who you think Jesus is and why he came to Earth

3. Then, define a Christian

ponder this...

I've heard it said-

Many people think the gospel was given to us to help us understand the world. Not so. Rather the world was given us to help us understand the gospel.

Certainly gets my cogs turning...