An Easter Devotional: Asking the Right Question

Mark 16:1-4 (ESV)
When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”
And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large.

The passage above records the first Easter morning as three women were walking to the tomb where Jesus had been laid.  On the way, they remembered that a large stone had been placed by the entrance, and they asked one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us…?”   As I read through this passage a few years ago, I was struck by their question.  I realized that if I had been in their shoes, I would have likely used one of the other question-starters…you know—what, when, where, why, how.  Perhaps I would have asked, “What am I going to do about that stone?” Or maybe, “How will I get past the stone?”  Or maybe I wouldn’t have even thought about it until I got there, and then with frustration asked, “Why did they have to put that huge stone there?”

I’m not sure the women fully realized the rich vein of gold in their question, but many, if not most, of life’s biggest questions can best be answered by who, not how or why or when?  Who can help me?  Jesus can.  Who will forgive me for this terrible sin that hovers over me like a dark cloud?  Jesus will.

Because Jesus rose from the dead, I have a friend who loves me, gave himself for me, and lives inside of me to guide me through the maze of my life.  Because of Easter, I can allow my dilemmas to resolve into “who,” even the ones that start out in my heart as why or when or how.  We may ask God ‘Why is this happening?’, or ‘When are things going to change?’  But a God powerful enough to roll away that huge stone gently whispers back to us, “Who are you trusting?” 

The “other” types of questions lead us to something to do, steps to take, formulas to figure out.  But “Who” leads us to a person.

So this Easter, as you worship, remember this.  The question is “Who?” and the answer is Jesus—the risen Savior!

For the Refugee: A New Song by Rick Brown. Release date Dec. 8, 2015

"For the Refugee," a new song of prayer for the refugees and a call to action to the body of Christ, was recently recorded and will be available beginning December 8 on iTunes.

It is being released by Brown House Worship Collective (see prior post), featuring the beautiful vocals of Emily Huffaker, myself on acoustic guitar, and the recording talents of the worship band, Sixteen Cities.

The Story Behind the Song:
Early this year, my wife, Bev, felt a strong calling to minister to Syrian refugees.  Her salvation story includes a revival meeting in Greenville, Texas, in her youth.  On the night she accepted Christ, the pastor leading the revival was a man of Syrian descent, whose family had fled their country to come to the United States.  Thus, her sense of calling to the Syrian refugees was heightened by this remarkable connection.

In late June, Bev and our son, Reese, journeyed with a group organized by E3 Partners to the Middle East, where they served and shared the gospel among the Syrian refugees.  Her return coincided with a massive media focus on the plight of the refugees pouring out of Syria into the surrounding nations and Europe.  Her stories of heartbreak and hope influenced me to write this song.

The Purpose of the Song:
My hope is that, as you listen to the song, it would be a time of prayer for refugees around the world.  Ask God to give you a moment of respite from the noise and frenzy around us so that we may remember that there are literally millions of displaced people all over the world, caught up in a violent vortex of war and loss and suffering.  These people are not political footballs to be punted from one border to another.  They are real people--people yearning for safety, for peace, for hope, for life, not just mere existence.

While governments must regulate and balance domestic needs with the needs of such a global crisis, I believe the Church must stand in the gap.  This moment may be a unique opportunity for the body of Christ to shine.  I sincerely hope that this song reminds all of us to ask God how we can help, whether through prayer, through financial giving, or even through direct involvement.

I know of at least one global ministry that plans to use this song as the sound track for a video to raise awareness and as a call to response.  I am hopeful that other ministries and individuals can use it in the same way. 

The 4 Minute Mile

On this day, May 6, in 1954, Roger Bannister achieved a feat that had eluded the world until then by running the first sub-4 minute mile on a track in Oxford.  Bannister was one of my most prominent childhood heroes as his story inspired me to look beyond the horizon of my own limitations.

A few years ago I read The Perfect Mile by Neal Bascomb, which recounts this remarkable story.  Most people in both the athletic and medical communities believed the 4 minute mile was impossible, beyond the physiological capabilities of the human body.  Bannister, a medical student, refused to agree.  He was among a small cluster of elite runners who strove to be the first to break the barrier, but race after race, year after year, they came agonizingly short of the mark. 
But Bannister endured and learned from each "failure" along the way.  Indeed, his repeated failures became the fuel, the knowledge-base for his ultimate victory.

As a Christ follower, I see so many spiritual implications.  In Hebrews 12:1-2 we are told to run the race "with endurance."  The Bannister story and the Hebrews admonition has inspired me throughout my life to keep my chin up in the face of failure, to not give up too soon on my dreams.  In fact, I've run two marathons, partly because I desired to experience and understand the hardship and physical challenge of running with endurance.   I'll never forget the lessons I learned in those endeavors.

Another spiritual parallel can be drawn from the concept of breaking barriers.  Once Bannister breached this "wall" other runners knew they could climb it as well.  The impossible had suddenly become possible.  In short order, other runners began to break the 4 minute mark, and now the record time stands almost 17 seconds lower.

Jesus broke the barrier of sin's separating force.  Now that he has accomplished what no other could do, we can enter into the presence of God.  We can carry this message to others, to a world full of people who believe they could never please God, that He would never accept them, because of the things they've done.  Sin does in fact create a barrier, but Jesus has burst through it for us, and we can follow Him through the veil. 

So be encouraged.  Barriers can be broken. 

Restorers class notes for May 8

This Sunday we will be unpacking one of my favorite passages in 2 Corinthians 5:14-24.  Read it in advance and come prepared to discuss what it means to be a "saint" and what are the responsibilites that come with it.

Here is a quick taste of just one verse in the passage.

v. 18 – “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”

Ministry of reconciliation.  The word reconciliation means agreement, almost like a treaty after a war.  The concept arises from the existence of a state of opposition, alienation, even being an enemy.  (Romans 5:10) 
So when we go into the world, what is our role?  To be reconcilers!  Restorers!  

Whoa!  Isn’t the task of reconciliation too big for us to handle?  Ahhh, yes it is.  So what do we do?   Introduce them to Jesus!

Why is Jesus the perfect one to bring about reconciliation? 
1.  He intimately knows both parties – God and Man.
2.  He loves both parties.
3.  He is aware of the nature and essence of the dispute.

4.  He is willing to suffer anything to bring about reconciliation.
5.  He removed the obstacle causing the alienation.