Happy belated Easter!
In this issue, I'd like to share some insights from my meditations about Jesus' death and resurrection.
In the Old Testament, there were many shadows of Jesus, i.e. the tabernacle and its furnishings, the priesthood and its practices. Even the many regular festivals spoke of the work of Jesus, i.e. the Passover and the Year of Jubilee.
According to New Testament writers, Jesus was the fulfillment of the law, by His own declarations as well as their understanding of Jesus. Here are some passages stating this:
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” Matthew 5:17-18
The blood sacrifices ceased because Christ fulfilled all that they were pointing toward. He was the final, unrepeatable sacrifice for sins. Hebrews 9:12
So what exactly happened on the cross? God took His law (embodied by Jesus) and died to it. Meaning, He turned away from it because it was ineffective in producing the righteousness He desired.
What is the righteousness He desired? Resurrection.
Coming back from the dead is not of this world. Before Jesus, no one had ever heard of someone coming back from the dead. It's not natural. It just doesn't happen. Everybody and everything dies. But living outside the norm is exactly what resurrection is about. It's being powered by the supernatural in an unstoppable way: the way of the cross, vulnerable, faith-filled, loving.
Resurrection is what happens when we receive God's freely given, indescribable Gift. When we become centered by true love, fear loses its grip on us and we can die to our old rules and expectations. We can live empowered by His Spirit of grace and truth, having an unstoppable belief and confidence yet have the discipline to face the most brutal facts. It is engaging the most difficult with unceasing hope and uncanny wisdom.
Jesus embodying the law, being crucified, and resurrecting is God owning the source of our systemic failures and building something new that redeems and restores us to become liberated lovers of life.
Essentially, the death and resurrection of Jesus was "the best ending that was actually the truest beginning".
Huh? I got that quote from the K-Drama, "Revolutionary Love" lol.
God modeled the way of transformation, i.e. letting go of old rules and expectations in order to create openness and opportunity for long term, benevolent connections: genuine friendships, fulfilling marriages as well as liberating leadership and effective partnerships. Freely chosen love based on a vulnerable heart of belief, like a child's. This is the pathway to creating a world where everyone wins.
"Transformation does not negate what has gone before; rather, it fulfills it. Creating the context of a world that works for everyone is not just another step forward in human history; it is the context out of which our history will begin to make sense." Werner Erhard.
Easter is the quintessential event that God desires all of us to experience.
My own Easter journey:
For 25+ years, I had been serving in faith communities to help people grow spiritually. I was passionate about God, the Bible, and incarnation (Jesus).
But as I developed my faith and practice, the organizations I was a part of did not share my direction for ministry. I became disappointed, dissatisfied, and disillusioned. I found myself frustrated with systemic challenges, which I wasn't positioned or equipped to change. What to do?
I decided to step out and build my own business to give more attention to my vision for healthy leadership in homes.
Looking back, I see the desire and inspiration came out of God encouraging me to fully own my internal struggles. I complained and grumbled about my circumstances. I felt sorry for myself. I was resentful, bitter. But I dove deeper into understanding my hurts and dysfunctions. I followed a slowly emerging hunch that there was much to glean.
In 2010, a friend invited me to a discovery session about life coaching. Immediately I saw it's power and application. I jumped into a training program and since then, I've had coaches help me consistently move forward. And of course I've used it to support others in personal and professional growth to become more effective at home and work.
Making the Easter move redeemed the value of my seemingly negative experiences. By owning my own issues more fully, I'm in the process of creating something new, even becoming someone new.
If you'd like to own and build to a greater degree your life, your family, your organization, take these next steps:
- Book 2 hours of complimentary coaching.
- Email me your goals and current situation.
We will spend our time with questions and action design to move towards your goals. No expectations or obligations attached. Just 2 hours of getting clear and moving forward with what matters most to you.
Or pick up a copy of my book, Growth Centered Family, where I go in depth about owning what matters most to cultivate a home or organization that effectively supports the growth of every member. Message me your thoughts as you go through it and let's get a conversation going.
Cheers!