CHANGING OUR TELLING

Much of the Christian message seems to be a strong message telling how Jesus died on the cross and that of course is very important. Though this telling is the message of the substitutionary sacrifice for our sins and “the sins of the whole world” it often ends with the details of the cruel cross and a Salvation Gospel.
Maybe before we tell how Jesus died, we should tell how he lived. If we don’t the message of the cross is lacking in relevancy and depth. By telling of the Kingdom of God, the Sermon on the Mount, the parables, the healings and concern for the sick, raising the dead, miracles like turning the water into wine, increasing the loaves and fish, or nights spent alone in prayer, loving children, open opposition to legal religion, standing up with the socially marginal… especially women, or his leadership style with The Twelve and a heart for giving money and time.

The work of the cross is very important indeed, but so is the work before the cross. It is not telling either/or, it is telling both.

“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Jesus