Westside Church of Christ

Share the Son. That is what we have sought to do during our annual fall gospel meeting. The Lord should be at the center of our attention all year, every month, all our days and each second of each hour. His principles must guide our steps and govern every relationship. That is what it means to be His disciple, and it is the only way we can be liberated from the sin that ruins us. We will remain enslaved until we live out His word (John 8:31-32).

The Jews to whom Jesus relayed that information balked at the idea. Although their history had a huge slavery chapter, they denied their time in bondage. We do, too, at times. Bad habits that we hesitate to admit hold us in their clutches. Flesh-driven passions fester in our minds and spill out in words and actions. We get huffy at the notion that there is none righteous without the cleansing blood of Christ, and that attitude only tightens the grip of sin. We are being choked to death and do not know it.

The Jews were the avenue through which God revealed His plans, but they missed the point. It wasn’t what they wanted or expected. Worldly power was their vision, and the Lord did not fill that bill. The religious aristocracy was outraged at His association with the riff-raff out on the margins of polite society. The self-righteous were indignant, and the lowly were lifted up. He came searching for those who gravitated to the wrong side of the tracks so that they might come to the other side.

Prophecy did not convince the Jews. Neither did His lifestyle. Kings don’t wash feet nor have sinful women washing theirs. The Son of God came as a humble servant. They never expected that, and the idea that He would be a SUFFERING SERVANT definitely did not match their theology. God’s chosen people did not choose the Chosen One. He came to serve, and they refused.

The Great Physician went about healing physical ailments to demonstrate His ability to cure the greatest illness of all, sin. He overpowered everything from demons to storms, paralytics and even death. He restored and resurrected. They witnessed the miracles but still rejected the One with the power and remained spiritually ill. His medicine was not what they wanted, and they hated Him for the prescription.

Their fury led to the brutality of the cross. Their hands and God’s plans. This was no human strategy, nor was the empty tomb that followed. Divine love suspended between heaven and earth to unite the two. Mission accomplished and God’s muscles flexed, the grave was emptied, and the victory was won. It appeared to be over when He died. It wasn’t. He is alive with nail- scarred hands waiting victoriously for us. That is the Son we share. Praise the Lord!

Call to praise: Luke 24:1-7

His word on it: 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Sermon: “Jesus: The Risen Savior”