The name that makes people squirm

As the time for Easter celebration draws near, I find myself thinking more and more about Jesus. I suppose this is natural during this time of year and yet, when I talk to other people, I guess it’s not natural for some. I’m not really sure how the life, death and resurrection of Jesus got translated into rabbits and eggs but then again, I don’t understand a lot of things.

The more I dwell on this and the more I get to know Jesus, the more things change for me. I spent awhile praying yesterday and found myself in the middle of a love fest. A Jesus love fest. It was like an hour spent in the arms of the love of your life, only better. It was like an hour spent in the most beautiful spot in the galaxy, surrounded by exquisite beauty that takes your breath away and brings tears to your eyes, only better. I found myself in the presence of the Love of my life, both in the now and forever.

Jesus has changed my life so dramatically, that I found myself unable to express to Him how appreciative I am and how much I love Him. Words to Him can’t express it, tears seems shallow. For those who knew me or have known me for a long time and those who know me now, I believe you will agree. Meeting Jesus has completely changed my life. Don’t get me wrong, I was a “believer” long ago. I signed my ‘get out of hell free’ card at a young age. But, Jesus wasn’t real to me, He didn’t reveal Himself to me as my friend until relatively recently. My dad put it well last night when he said, “You believed but didn’t walk with Him.”

That was perfectly put. What I have discovered is a walk, a journey through this thing we call life with a real Friend, a true Lover, a Brother and Father, a Savior and Redeemer, a King. That He would love me and want to walk with me was something I wasn’t really ready for. Nor do I think many are. We find it such a foreign concept that, not only does He love us, but He wants us. He desires to walk with me, with you. He desires you.

Imagine that.

Seriously, stop what you’re doing and dwell on that for a few minutes and let it sink in really good. The Creator of all that is loves you and wants to walk through your life with you. He cares about the little things of your life. He cares so much that He sent His Son, the perfect human incarnation of Himself to this crappy place to live, die and come back from the dead.

For me.

For you.

Now that you’ve thought about that for a minute, riddle me this. Why are people so uncomfortable with the idea of this Man? Why do we fight against this Jesus? The only being ever who will always love you, no matter what, just wants you to choose Him, to follow, to love Him back. Why does that make people so uncomfortable? Why does it make those who call themselves believers so uncomfortable, this name of Jesus?!

Then again, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by this. He said He would divide families, He said He would bring a sword rather than peace. He told us people were going to hate us, revile us, treat us differently. He knew this because everybody seemed to hate Him so much. Why????

All He wanted to do was show them the way to the Father. All He wants to do is love us and show us a way of living that honors our Creator. Why do we shun that, why are we so angry about it, why would we reject that? Here’s what I really don’t get about God. He knew that His offer of salvation, His offering of love to the world that He created was going to be rejected, killed, mocked, shunned.

By His own people.

And we are still rejecting Him, still killing His spirit in our lives, still mocking His call to service, love, humility and holiness, still shunning His call to our hearts. Why? Two thousand years ago, the Jews and Romans crucified the only Man who loved them even while they were killing Him. Today, we are still crucifying His love every time we reject His call on our hearts.