Audio
Share the faith
Many people today have no need at all to find God. You don't feel like you've done anything wrong, let alone sinned. They don't know the concept of guilt or God. They do not trust any government or the concept of truth that has often been used to suppress other people. How can the good news of Jesus be put into words in a way that makes it meaningful to these people? This article explains the gospel by focusing on human relationships - which people still attach importance to.
Broken relationships kitten and heal
The biggest problems facing Western society are broken relationships: friendships that have turned into enmity, promises that have not been kept, and hopes that have turned into disappointments. Many of us have seen divorce as children or adults. We have experienced the pain and turmoil caused by an unsafe world. We learned that people in authority cannot be trusted and that people ultimately always act according to their own interests. Many of us feel lost in a strange world. We don't know where we came from, where we are right now, where we are going or who we belong to. We try our best to navigate through life's challenges, run through spiritual minefields, maybe even try not to show the pain we feel and don't even know if it's worth it.
We feel infinitely alone because we seem to have to take care of ourselves. We don't want to commit ourselves to anything and religion doesn't seem very helpful either. People with perverted religious understandings may be those who blow up innocent people - because they are in the wrong place at the wrong time - and claim that God makes them suffer because He is angry with them. They look down on people who are different from them. Your understanding of God makes no sense, because right and wrong are different opinions, sin is an old-fashioned idea, and feelings of guilt are only fodder for therapists. Jesus seems to be meaningless. People often draw wrong conclusions about Jesus because they believe that he led a rapt life in which he healed people with just one touch, made bread from nothing, walked on water, was surrounded by guardian angels, and magically harmed people escaped. But that has no meaning in today's world. Even at his crucifixion, Jesus seems removed from the problems of our time. His resurrection is good news for him personally, but why should I believe it is good news for me too?
Jesus experienced and experienced our world
The pain that we feel in our world, which is strange to us, is exactly that pain that Jesus himself knows from experience. He was betrayed by his friends and abused and injured by the country's authorities. He was betrayed by a kiss from one of his closest associates. Jesus knows what it means when people greet him cheerfully one day and meet him the next with boos and abuse. John the Baptist, Jesus' cousin, was murdered by the ruler appointed by the Romans because he showed his moral weaknesses. Jesus knew that he too would be killed for questioning the doctrine and status of Jewish religious leaders. Jesus knew that people would hate him for no reason, that his friends would turn away and betray him, and that soldiers would kill him. He did us good even though he knew beforehand that we humans would cause him physical pain and even kill him. He is the person who is loyal to us, even when we are hateful. He's a real friend and the opposite of a cheater. We are like people who have fallen into an ice-cold river. We can't swim and Jesus is the one who jumps in the deep end to save us. He knows we will try everything possible, but we cannot save ourselves and would perish without his intervention. Jesus came unselfishly into our world and he knew very well that he would be hated and killed. Jesus did this voluntarily for us to show us a better way. He is the person we can trust. If he is ready to give his life for us, even if we see him as an enemy, how much more can we trust him if we recognize him as a friend?
Our way in life
Jesus can tell us something about life. About where we came from, where we are going, and how we are getting there. He can tell us of the dangers in the minefield of relationships that we call life. We can trust him and find out it's worth it. As we do this, we are bound to see our confidence grow. In the end, he is always right.
Normally we don't want friends who are always right because they're annoying. But Jesus, the Son of God, is not the type of person who says "I told you that straight away!". He jumps into the water, repels our attempts to hit for us, heaves us onto the bank and lets us gasp for air. We move on, do something wrong again and fall into the water again. Ultimately we will ask him where the dangerous parts of our journey are, so as not to endanger ourselves. But we can also be assured that our rescue is not a must for him, but a matter of the heart.
Jesus is patient with us. He makes us make mistakes and even makes us suffer the consequences of those mistakes. He lets us learn the lessons from this, but never lets us down. We may not even be sure he really exists, but we can rest assured that his patience and forgiveness are much greater and better for our relationship than anger and alienation. Jesus understands our doubts and our distrust. He understands why we are so reluctant to trust because he too was hurt.
The reason he's so patient is because he wants us to find him and accept his special invitation to a wonderful joyful celebration. Jesus speaks of exuberant joy, a genuine and everlasting, personal and fulfilling relationship. Through such a relationship with him and with others, we recognize who we really are. We were created for these relationships, that's why we want them so badly. That is exactly what Jesus offers us.
Divine leadership
The life that lies ahead is worth living. That is why Jesus willingly took upon himself the pain of this world and pointed to a better life ahead of us. It's like walking through the desert and not knowing where we're going. Jesus left the safety and comfort of paradise and faced the storms of this world and tells us: There is a life in which we can partake of all the beauty of the kingdom of God. We just have to go with him. We can respond to this invitation, "Thank you, but I'll try my luck in the desert," or we can take his advice. Jesus also tells us where we are right now. We're not in paradise yet. life hurts We know that and he knows it too. He experienced it himself. That is why he also wants to help us to get out of this hopeless world and enable us to live a life in abundance, which he has prepared for us from the beginning.
Jesus tells us that there are some relationship dangers in this world. Family ties and friendships can be the nicest and happiest relationships of our lives if they work. But they don't always do that and then they cause the greatest pain. There are ways that cause pain and there are ways that produce joy. Unfortunately, people sometimes look for ways that lead to joy that cause pain in other people. Sometimes when we are trying to avoid pain, we are also giving up pleasure. That is why we need safe guidance when we wander through the desert. Jesus can lead us in the right direction. By following him, we get to where he is.
The Creator God wants a relationship with us, a friendship that is characterized by love and joy. We are reserved and fearful, have betrayed the Creator, are hiding and do not want to open the letters He sends us. That is why God became Jesus in human form. He came into our world to tell us not to be afraid. He forgave us, he provided us with something better than what we already had and wants us to come back home where it is safe and comfortable. The messenger was killed, but the message remains the same. Jesus still offers us friendship and forgiveness. He lives and not only offers us to show us the way, but travels with us and saves us from cold waters. He walks with us through thick and thin. He is persistent in saving us and patient until the time comes. We can count on him, even when everyone else disappoints us.
Good news for us
With a friend like Jesus, we no longer have to fear our enemies. It is good to have a friend who is above everyone else. Jesus is that friend. He says he has all the power in the universe. He has promised us to use this power for us. Jesus invites us to his celebration in paradise. He went out of his way to bring us this invitation. He was even killed for it, but that didn't stop him from loving us. Nevertheless, he invites everyone to this celebration. How are you? Maybe you can't quite believe that someone is so loyal or that life can be good forever. That's okay - he knows that your experience has made you skeptical of such claims. I firmly believe that you can trust Jesus. Don't just take my word for it, try it for yourself. Get in his boat. I think you will want to stay inside. You will start inviting other people to join. The only thing you have to lose is your being lost.
by Michael Morrison
