Embracing JesusHis Mortal Life, Suffering, Death,

and Resurrection for UsRuss & Susan Fochler

1

Jesus on the Cross

But the cross is not a law, rather it radically demonstrates the character of who God is. We need to quit distorting our vision by looking at everything with our law spectacles and throw them on the floor and step on the glass! The Cross is extraordinarily radical, a scandal, and we reduce it to a pocket-sized principle. A rule we can pin on our refrigerator door.- Derek Flood

2

3

Road to Emmaus

4

46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

Jesus appears to His Disciples

5

Why?

What motivated Jesus to go through the humiliations, rejections, mockings, excruciating physical trauma, and then the slow death through exhaustion and asphyxiation in public?

And why did He resurrect in His human body?6

Why?

We have John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” We know it was love that motivated Jesus, the love He and Father God shared for humanity. The Apostle John gives us a fuller understanding in John 17.

7

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

John 17

8

“One” with Jesus, Father God, and Each Other

Jesus prayed for this He desires this

He lived as a human for thisHe suffered and died for this to be possible for us:

A loving, whole-hearted familytransparent and trusting

9

22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” John 17:20-23

John 17

10

“We can’t have intimacy without humility.”

-Danny Silk

11

What Does True, Live Giving Intimacy Need?

True, life-giving intimacy cannot be based upon laws or rules. We need humility and a living conscience so we are able to stay attuned to the other person. And they need humility and a living conscience to attune to us.

Each person needs to “show up” in the relationship, but neither can simply dominate — or intimacy is lost to a master-slave relationship.

12

Jesus’ HumilityJesus humbled himself to an unimaginable degree to offer us the great gift of intimacy with Himself and His Father.

He emptied himself and lived as a vulnerable human being, subjected to the horrible emotional and physical damage humans inflict on each other. So, the truth of the His courageous love for us is undeniable.

13

Jesus’ HumilityJesus humbled himself to be attuned to our weaknesses and struggles.

Jesus felt the full force of our rejection of Him - our loving Creator. We’re inclined to “run our life” independently and decide right and wrong for ourselves rather than live in relationship with Him. So, “we” hated Jesus when He came to reveal the Father to humanity.

14

Yet, Jesus is Our Heart’s Desire

Our deepest heart longs for Jesus, longs for our Father. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, our hearts burn within us, our spirit leaps for joy in in His presence!

15

Conscience19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22

16

ConscienceA living conscience continually helps us to return and stay in the River of Life.

Jesus’ blood sprinkles our conscience clean, our conscience is made alive with His life.

“The waters of baptism do that for you [indicate salvation], not by washing away dirt from your skin but by presenting you through Jesus’ resurrection before God with a clear conscience. Jesus has the last word on everything and everyone, from angels to armies. He’s standing right alongside God, and what he says goes.” 1 Peter 3:21-22 The Message

17

ConscienceOur conscience is not so much about figuring out right and wrong. Our conscience is empowered by the Holy Spirit to be drawn to what is true life and to avoid what brings death — even if it looks “good”. Aware of the damage we’ve caused, we long for a clear conscience. Jesus seeks the joyful fellowship made possible because our conscience is in tune with Him, and with each other. Jesus, we receive anew Your blood shed once for all cleansing and restoring our consciences.

18

Conscience & SinThe law given through Moses was necessary for those who were former slaves - to have “guard rails” that were obvious even when their consciences were not fully “alive”.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Sin diverges from what is life and what brings life. Sin is much more than “breaking the rules”. Sin degrades people, damages hearts, corrodes the fabric of relationships, and harms all creation (the land, plants, animals, etc.)

19

Conscience & SinAnother way to say this: It’s the very nature of sin that leads to death. Trying to live independently of the One who is Life leads to degradation, deterioration, broken hearts and spirits, a culture of death, death-spawning eco-systems. But, God through Jesus opened wide the door of life to each of us. “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3 NKJV

20

Matters of the HeartWhen Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, He was drawing attention to heart issues. All Kingdom matters are matters of the heart. When the spirit of our mind is renewed (Eph 4:23) by the Holy Spirit — we think, feel, and act in loving, life-giving ways.

21

And why did Jesus resurrect in His human body?

22

• Proved His victory over death and the grave. • Empowered His followers to risk and give

their lives to share His story. • Revealed we will also have physical bodies

when He returns. So, the “oneness” Jesus prayed for is not a merging into an “oceanic consciousness” like some eastern religions teach. We will still be our own person —interacting with the Trinity and each other with love and the flow of spiritual life.

23

Jesus’ physical resurrection:

Jesus!!Let yourself be utterly captivated by Jesus: The mystery of His great love for you; His courage and suffering to have a true, life-giving, unfolding, relationship with you forever.

24

Paul’s Response in Ephesians 3:14-21

16 I ask him (Father) to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in.

25

Paul’s Response in Ephesians 3:14-21

20-21 God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

26

Embracing JesusHis Mortal Life, Suffering, Death, and Resurrection

for Us

27