Introduction:
C. S. Lewis is probably best known today as the author of The Chronicles of Narnia because that series of children’s books have been made into movies. Lewis wrote many other books, including one entitled, Mere Christianity. In that book he tries to explain and “defend the belief that has been common to nearly all Christians at all times.” He writes, “The central Christian belief is that Christ’s death (and His coming to life again) has somehow put us right with God and given us a fresh start.”
“We believe that the death of Christ is just the point in history at which something absolutely unimaginable from outside shows through into our own world. … You may ask what good will it be to us it we do not understand it. But that is easily answered. A man can eat his dinner without understanding exactly how food nourishes him. A man can accept what Christ has done without knowing how it works…. …His death has washed out our sins, and … in dying He disabled death itself. That is … Christianity.”
Citation: C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Collier Books, © 1952
And that’s why we’ve been going to Jesus’ cross as we work our way to Easter Sunday’s celebration of his resurrection. His death is the central idea of our faith. This is a great time to uncover the blessings his suffering and death provide for us.
So far, we’ve found that Jesus’ death on the cross paid the ransom that sets us free from slavery to sin and Satan. His crucifixion conquered the forces of evil and sets us free from the list of charges against us. On the Cross, as Jesus bled and died, he received the punishment our sins deserved. When Jesus died for us he makes it possible for us to become God’s children.
We need to return to the beginning and review our history to discover today’s blessing from Jesus’ death on the cross.
I. Humanity’s Drive for Upward Mobility is displayed in our history. (Draw boxes up and then down in the shape of an inverted V to correspond to the words in ALL CAPS.)
A. Our first parents grabbed for EQUALITY WITH GOD and ate themselves out of house and home in the Garden of Eden.
1. Humans long to have more POPULARITY than the next person. (Even on Facebook and Twitter your influence is measured in part by how many friends or followers you have.)
2. We seek POSITION and POWER in order to tell others how to make us happy.
3. We struggle to own more and more POSSESSIONS as we declare, “The one who dies with the most toys wins.”
B. That brings us to the downside of our drive to move up to God’s throne.
1. Friends and followers can DESERT us at the worst possible moments.
2. Every time we grab for power, position and possessions it causes DISPUTES, war, famine and DISEASE.
3. The more we develop to improve our lives in this world the more we are reminded that DEATH and chaos reign here.
II. Jesus acted in the exact opposite direction. His Decision for Downward Mobility is described for us in Philippians 2:1-13 (p. 1162). (Draw boxes down and then up in the shape of a V to correspond to the words in ALL CAPS.)
(Let’s save verses 1 through 4 for later and go straight to verse 5.)
[5] Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
[6] Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider EQUALITY WITH GOD something to be grasped,
[7] but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a SERVANT,
being made in human likeness.
[8] And being found in appearance as a MAN,
he humbled himself
and became OBEDIENT TO DEATH —
even death on a CROSS!
[9] Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is ABOVE EVERY NAME,
[10] that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (EVERYWHERE)
[11] and EVERY TONGUE confess that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD,
to the GLORY OF GOD the Father.
Thesis & REPENTANCE POINT
Human beings have a strong tendency to live life in their own individual ways. We bristle at the idea of anyone – even God telling us how to live our lives. But when we see Jesus’ obedience that took him to the cross it can motivate us to obey God the way he did.
Key Question:
How does that look in our lives? What does it mean for us to seek downward mobility? Again the answers are found in Philippians 2. Let’s go back and pick up the verses we skipped over earlier.
[2:1] If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, (in other words, if you have a growing relationship with Jesus) [2] then make my joy complete (here come the marks of living like Jesus in downward mobility) by BEING LIKE-MINDED, HAVING THE SAME LOVE, BEING ONE IN SPIRIT AND PURPOSE.
[3] Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in HUMILITY (the opposite of vain conceit) consider others better than yourselves. [4] Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also be CONCERNED FOR THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS (the opposite of selfish ambition).
FIRST STEPS: What are the first steps in this REPENTANCE POINT {paradigm shift or change in our thinking}?
You might be thinking, “But that’s not the way the world works. Acting like that will get me crucified!”
It was not easy for Jesus either.
He prayed three times, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)
Jesus knows it’s not easy to decide for downward mobility but he still declares “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?” (Luke 9:23-25 NLT)
Let move to verses 12 and 13 in Philippians 2 now.
[12] Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed — not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence — (in other words, you do have a growing relationship with Jesus, so) continue to work out your salvation (Work it out to the finish; a reference to the demonstration of one's salvation in spiritual growth and development. Your relationship with God is not merely a gift received once for all; it expresses itself in an ongoing process.) with fear and trembling, [13] for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (The only reason we have any hope of deciding for downward mobility is that God is working in us and with us to make it happen. Duty, religious zeal and determination will not help us follow Jesus’ example.)
RESPONSE GOAL / INVITATION:
So what will you do? Jesus calls you to follow him in a growing relationship that will lead you down in loving service to others. This is not about your religion. You and I need to make a choice.
Religion or relationship: Isn't that our choice?
We can do things out of a sense of duty. That is religion, and it's a killer.
Or we can choose to let Jesus live out his life through us. Our relationship with him causes us to respond as he did. The love of Christ compels us. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)
The two may look the same sometimes, but their effect is profoundly different.
Citation: Felicity, http://www.simplychurch.com/2011/03/religion-or-relationship.html
Will you say yes to Jesus’ call to follow him today? If not now when?
