Immanuel- Good Friday

Once upon a time, I heard this illustration. If someone told you they were going to kill you, and you just went, “oh yeah” and went on with your daily life, could you really say you believed that person? Probably not. If you believed them, you would become paranoid, call the police, stay home, buy a bullet proof vest, whatever. Your life would change because of the belief.

And so now, in this Holy week, which just begs for profound blogging, I'm asking myself the same question but different. If someone said they could give you life, and you believed it, what would that look like? If someone held out to you a “new and living way,” a different way of being, a second chance, a new start, an unconditional love, a chance at transformation and healing...and you said, “oh yeah” and went on with your daily life, could you say you believed it?

Here's two of several things God has on repeat in my life right now:

1. There are ways of living that make sense if there is no God or if God has no power to resurrect.
2. But there is a God. And he resurrected.

And then there is this thought still echoing through my mind from December, this fact that Jesus is called 'Immanuel,' or “God with us.” We think of this at Christmas time because it's so hopeful and, well, it's what's happening...God is coming to be with us. Surely, though, the name applies today of all days as well. Jesus is just as much Immanuel in his crucifixion as he is at his birth. Just as much Immanuel on that silent Saturday. Just as much Immanuel as he resurrects, sends out, ascends. Even now as we wait? God with us.

So today I am asking questions like, what does it mean to die? There were the people who saw Jesus and left everything seemingly with no problems. I'm not that type. I'm more a rich young ruler sort. And I find my heart confronted by this question from Jesus lately: Are you willing to pay what it costs?

And, what does it cost? To resurrect? For the new way? A lot.

Scary and hopeless if there is no Immanuel.

...But there is. In the birth, in the dying, in the raising, and in the glorious day of our redemption.