LIFE

Last weekend me and my Youth Leadership Teen360 team took 8 teens to compete in an art and sports competition called Celebrate Life.  I am so proud of our teens bringing home 5 medals this year, and three of them being eligible for regionals to compete in Volleyball, Dodgeball, Bowling, Home Run Derby, and Singing Solo!  I was asked to speak for the event on Friday night, and this is the message God laid on my heart. 

Matthew 20:11-18, 24-29; Acts 2:42-47

The hills around you are lifeless, and choked by weeds.  A giant, roughly cut, rock has been rolled away from a dark, depressing cave.  Imagine being Mary, the mother of Jesus, still weeping for the loss of your son, and taking in the dry air of this grave, quite different from the garden your son originally had a hand in creating.  Imagine the way you feel as you step to the edge of the rock, and see nothing but an empty cave and loose garments lying shapeless where your son should be.
A beam of light catches the corners of your eyes, and as you turn an angelic host asks why you stand there in tears.  You are frantic and try to explain that you are afraid someone has stolen away with the corpse of your son, but the angel stops you, and then calls your name, in a way that seems so familiar. The patience and Love in His voice reminds you of the hope you delivered to the world just thirty three years before.
“JESUS!”, you reply, as your tears of sorrow become that of rejoicing, and you begin to embrace your son for the first time since his brutal torture just three days ago.  Then He looks you in the eyes and says, “Don’t hold onto me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.  Go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and yours, to my God and your God.”  Without delay, you run to the disciples with the news that you have seen the Lord, alive, and risen from the dead!
The room is dark. Lights remind you all of the hope that was lost three days before.  All you have heard have been the mourning from those who feel like life has been doomed to failure, when an unexpected cry is heard from the distance.  Suddenly, The door is swung open, and Mary comes forward with the news that Jesus has risen from the dead!

Imagine being Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples, hearing Mary’s words, after spending three days trying to convince yourself that the painful image of your savior being nailed to a splintery, carelessly built, wooden cross somehow never happened, but finally deciding the hope you had believed in was lost forever.  You heard his cries.  You saw His blood pouring from His body. You were there when He took His final breath.  This news that Mary brings is too much like the fictional stories friends share around campfires; it can be anything but real. 
Imagine hearing the others, who you consider brothers and sisters, shouting that they have seen the Lord, alive and walking among them.  There is no way you’ll believe it, unless you see the nail marks in His hands, and put your finger where they pierced His skin.  Unless you could put your hand into His side, where they struck Him with that spear, there is no way this story could be believable. 
Imagine Jesus appears, a few days later, standing before you.  He looks you in the eyes and says, “Thomas, put your finger here; see my hands.  Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting, and believe.”  You stand speechless before His Majesty, humbled by your disbelief, and your only response is, “You are my Lord and my God!”  Then He takes hold of you, and you feel His heart break for the limits of your faith, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The hands of the clock move fast. Life doesn’t seem to move any slower, but for a brief moment there is time to take a breath.  Imagine being in a room with a large crowd of people that are acting as if they’ve just witnessed the greatest miracle on earth!  Imagine hearing Peter, who was with Jesus as He ascended into the sky, now speaking to everyone about God’s Holy presence filling everyone with gifts of praise and worship.  He speaks of being set apart as God’s people; asked to be adopted into His family.  Everyone is devoted to the teachings of those that stand with Peter, and they begin showing what God has done through wonders and signs you’ve only heard people talk about.  Imagine not feeling out of place, like you were made for this, and the room is united in fellowship.  The people immediately respond by giving to those in need and praying for one another.  You hear cheerful singing and testimonies of God’s Love.  No one stands in silence, and the chills you feel on your arms are from your desire to invite everyone to experience what you have seen! 

Today, in the midst of all of your friends and churches, let these images be the celebration of your life.  God has created you with a purpose!  His Son, accepted the punishment of sin in your place, went through your death, so that you can spend eternity in His Family!  Jesus has had victory over death, has risen, and offers this Love to everyone who will believe!

Does this story remind you of the fictional movie you saw last week?  Like Thomas, will you have to see and feel Jesus’ wounds before it could ever be true? Or will you run with it, like Mary, not afraid if you stand alone among those who choose not to believe?  Will you take the call, go into our world, sharing this message with others; with the hope that all will experience what you have heard, and use the Gifts God has given you, in praise and worship of His Name?

You are standing in His presence, He is reaching out to you, offering you this gift of life.  How will you celebrate it?