May the Good News and Hope of Easter be celebrated and proclaimed this season!
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Of Snakes and Salvation
As we approach another Easter Season, it can appear that the message of Easter can be largely either ignored or somewhat eclipsed. This year, it is not simply the “Easter Bunny” that distracts our culture, but also the increasing plurality of religions.
In recent days, I have heard more about Vaisakhi (April 14) (see: 5_Days_of_Prayer_for_Sikhs) and Ramadan (April 1-May 1) than I have heard about Easter in the media. Much emphasis is on how our Sikh and Muslim neighbours respectively are adapting their celebrations amidst COVID cautions.
I do not begrudge celebrations of other faiths. I am saddened however that somehow our society has developed a rather, “whatever floats your boat” attitude toward religion. It does not seem to be of much concern as to which faith is true and which is not, or which addresses our greatest need or not. That would be considered judgemental. Just live and let live…
In speaking at Parkdale Church in Victoria last weekend (where Tim and Emily pastor), my assignment was John 1-5, an introduction to John’s Gospel. John begins with the claim of John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The Jehovah’s Witnesses choose to “translate” this same verse, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a God.” What a difference a simple “indefinite article” makes – “A lesser Jesus leads to a lesser Gospel.”
John, anticipating that people would seek to diminish Jesus, made it his point to counter this. He writes, “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30,31).
In focusing on John 3, I was struck at the conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus. Nicodemus, a devout and prominent Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin, sought Jesus out of curiosity, not spiritual hunger or felt need.
It was Jesus who identified that NIcodemus needed to be born again, or “fathered from above” (1 John 3:9), and to help him grasp this, he cited the experience of the Israelites en route to the Red Sea and the Promised Land, as described in Numbers 21:4ff.
The Israelites grumbled about the food God had provided, stating, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” God has had enough of this, and sends venomous snakes among them. Many are bitten and die.
The people came to Moses, pleading, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” Moses intercedes to God, and God responds by providing a means of rescue. Moses is to construct a bronze snake and place this on a pole. He did, and all who looked to this were saved from death, even if they were bitten by a snake.
It strikes me that the people wanted God to remove the snakes – the consequences of their sin, or God’s deserved judgement. God doesn’t, but responds by providing a way of deliverance – at His initiative and expense. Deliverance was not automatic for all. It required an act of obedience and faith. Those who had faith to look upon the snake on the pole lived. Those who did not would die. God’s judgement remained.
Jesus, still speaking to Nicodemus then states, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:14-17).
Might it be that today, just like in the days of the Israelites long ago, people are hoping that God will simply remove His judgement and the consequences of our sin, rather than looking to Him for His way of deliverance and salvation? Once again, the means of deliverance is at God’s initiative and at God’s great expense.
Perhaps it is more attractive and “woke” to present God as “soft” rather than just and holy. As such, God would simply remove any consequence of sin. The truth is that God remains both just and holy. He is also loving, so loving that He has sent His Son to come, die and rise again – God’s initiative and God’s expense. As Paul puts it in Romans 8:33,34, our righteous judge has become our deliverer, “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.“
Jesus continues speaking to Nicodemus, as recorded in John 3, and states that there will be three responses to God’s initiative of salvation through His Son, the Light of the World. Some will simply decide to reject the Light. Others will fear the Light, as it exposes their sin. Still others will gladly receive the Light, and find salvation and eternal life through Him.
As we are entrusted with living and sharing the Good News this Easter Season, may we preach Christ, who has come to save! May we share with both conviction and humility, and with expectation that there will be those who will welcome the Light of Christ.
God has not compromised on his holiness or justice. Loving us, He has provided a means of deliverance and salvation through Christ. He didn’t remove the snakes. He gave his Son!
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.
(Romans 8:1-3)
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Church Boards 101
A practical workshop for church boards that will resource your church leadership to:
Please register at:
https://www.lpd-efcc.ca/event/church-boards-101/
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LPD Pastor and Staff Cruise
Wednesday, June 1
Plan to join us for this “cruise” aboard BC Ferry, “Coastal Inspiration,”
as Evans Hundermark takes command as “skipper” of our Lower Pacific District.
Please save the date, and watch for details in the weeks ahead.
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COVID UPDATE
Masks and Proof of Vaccination are no longer required for all indoor and outdoor activities and ministries, including faith services. Many people may still choose to wear masks, so please be sensitive to one another and respect the health and comfort of others.
Gathering and Events: There are no longer any restrictions on capacity at worship services or other events, regardless of vaccination status. Proof of Vaccination is no longer required.
For full details, please see the latest Provincial Health Order: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/info/restrictions#pho-order
Please check our LPD Website to keep up to date with the latest regulations and protocols: https://www.lpd-efcc.ca/covid-19/
For personal assistance regarding COVID Policy and the Canadian Recovery Hiring Program (CHRP) and COVID Protocols, please contact Josephine at our district office.
