The Danger of Jesus’ Resurrection

Resurrection is dangerous! Jesus is not safe. The physical, bodily resurrection of Jesus will challenge you at the very depth of your soul. The resurrection of Jesus changes everything!

There is an annual event in Australia called the Festival of Dangerous Ideas.  A couple of years ago they included a Q&A time with some panelists surrounding the question – “what dangerous idea has the greatest potential to change the world for the better?”  Several panelists answered that question in unique but logical ways based upon their worldview.  And then the question was directed to Peter Hitchens and his answer clearly startled the others.  “The most dangerous idea in human history and philosophy remains the belief that Jesus Christ was the son of God and rose from the dead, and that is the most dangerous idea you will ever encounter.”

The moderator didn’t appear to understand the danger of the resurrection and so asked “why dangerous?”  To which Hitchens responded: “Because it alters the whole of human behavior and all our responsibilities.  It turns the universe from a meaningless chaos into a designed place in which there is justice and there is hope and, therefore, we all have a duty to discover the nature of justice and work towards that hope.  It alters us all.  If we reject it, it alters us all as well.  It is incredibly dangerous.  It’s why so many people turn against it.” 

He was right.  The physical and bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the most dangerous idea.  If true, it changes everything.  Chocolate bunnies and marshmallow peeps have no eternal value or significance!  Resurrection changes everything. Resurrection isn’t soft and cuddly.  Resurrection is dangerous. 

I’m afraid we aren’t aware of just how dangerous it is.  Christian philosopher Stephen Davis says: “Christians today do not seem to be astonished at the idea of resurrection (after 2000 Easters, we seem to have gotten used to the idea), but we ought to be.” If, as a Jesus follower, the most dangerous idea of all ideas doesn’t rock your world, then maybe your faith is too safe.  And if you’re not a follower of Jesus, welcome to Christianity’s dangerous idea!

Paul spent much of his life trying to destroy the dangerous idea of Christianity until he had a life-altering encounter with the resurrected Jesus.  He went from killing Christians (ISIS) to being a Christian pastor.  In 1 Corinthians he writes about the implications of following Jesus. Paul shows us why resurrection is so dangerous. 

The resurrection of Jesus turns the world upside down.   Jesus had been arrested, beaten, and executed. One thing the Powers That Be can’t tolerate is being rejected and so they rejected Him! They killed Him. End of story. But then, something extraordinary happened. God said, “Uh, No. That isn’t the end of the story!” And though He was indeed good and dead, God amazingly and graciously resurrected Jesus – back to life!

The guards who’d been posted at the tomb ran to tell the chief priests what had happened. Their lives were in jeopardy for failing to prevent the tomb from being opened. To break the Roman seal that had been placed at the entrance to the tomb was against the Emperor’s law and punishable by death.

Jesus showed Himself to those disciples of His who had run away in fear and when they experienced Him and recognized the nail marks on His hands, they came out of hiding! Until they encountered the Risen Christ, they viewed the world the way others did.  But when they saw Him risen and alive, they unlocked the doors, came out, and began turning the world upside down! They knew another reality that was bolder, truer, and stronger than the powers that had been paralyzing them with fear. Jesus had risen!

The resurrection of Jesus deals with the problem of death.  One quarter of the gospel accounts focus on the death of Christ. Plenty of other information was left out so that we would grasp the death of Jesus Christ. Jesus did not die as a good example; He did not die because He was a nice martyr; Jesus Christ died for our sins. Sin is a concept one doesn’t hear a lot in our culture today. We hear about illnesses, addictions, and disorders, but we don’t hear much about sin. Yet, the truth is: Jesus Christ died on the cross for the sins of every man, woman, and child that has ever lived. Sin is the reason Jesus went to the cross.

Christ had to die because you and I were in trouble with God. What puts us in trouble with God is our sin. Just so that there is no doubt, let me clarify what sin is: Sin is anything contrary to the character and commandments of God. To boil down this definition even further, sin is merely leaving God out and failing to worship Him properly.

Jesus Christ died for our sins.  He was our substitute.  A substitute is a person who takes the place of another. We should have died for our sins but Jesus died in our place. Jesus took your place that you might have His place. He took your hell that you might have His heaven. That is His substitutionary death. It is the heart of the gospel. Jesus’ life does not save us. His teaching does not save us. He saves us by His death on the cross. There is no other way to get rid of our sins. The good news of the gospel is that when Christ died for our sins, He died for our past, present, and future sins. He covered all of our sins for all time. Are you having trouble forgiving yourself for sins you have committed? Remember, Christ’s death was sufficient for your sins. His death satisfied God’s wrath against sin. 

When you buy something at a store, the clerk accepts your money and gives you a receipt confirming that the bill was paid in full. If there is ever a dispute about whether the payment was made, all you have to do is produce your receipt. The payment for sin that God demanded has been paid, and the empty tomb is proof that the payment was received and the debt satisfied. The resurrection is our “receipt” from God the Father that He accepted His Son’s payment for sin on the cross

In the resurrection of Jesus, God keeps his word.  Paul does not try to prove that the resurrection of Jesus actually happened. Instead, he assumes the resurrection as fact. In these verses, he simply wants us to know that Christ has risen from the dead. The gospel still works today. As Christians what we really need is to be reminded of what we already know. We need to preach the gospel to ourselves every day. When we do this, we experience a new surge of life and love for Christ.

Paul reminds his readers of what the gospel is. The term “gospel” means “good news.” This is the message that Paul preached to the Corinthians for the eighteen months he served as their pastor. Paul is writing with the confidence that the Corinthians are believers. “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.” An important phrase immediately jumps out: “according to the Scriptures.” In the Old Testament, God predicted that Christ would die and rise again. One of the strongest arguments that Jesus is the Christ is how He fulfilled Old Testament prophecy.

This gospel was “of first importance” and foundational to everything else in the Christian life. It isa non-negotiable. The reason for this is the gospel did not originate from Paul or any other man; rather it was received from God and then delivered to people. It is God’s gospel, not ours. No one would have ever devised a plan of salvation like this one, for mankind always tries to obtain salvation the old-fashioned way—“to earn it.” But the good news of the Christian gospel is that salvation is a free gift—costly to Christ but free to us.

The resurrection of Jesus requires a response.  The great tightrope walker Blondin strung a wire from one side of the Niagara Falls to the other. A crowd gathered to watch him attempt to walk out over the deadly falls. The silent tension turned to cheers as they watched him walk out, turn and come back. He asked the crowd, “How many believe that I can walk to the other side and back while pushing a wheelbarrow?” To which they shouted, “We believe, we believe!” And, Blondin did in fact walk out and back with a wheelbarrow. Upon his return, Blondin asked, “Who believes I could push a man in this wheelbarrow while walking out and back on the wire?” Again the crowd responded with enthusiastic affirmation. “OK,” he asked, “Who would like to get in?” The crowd fell silent.

Trusting Jesus is not simply assenting to the facts of the gospel message, there is a decision that implies actually getting into the wheelbarrow. The proof of the resurrection is its dangerous power to change lives. The gospel centers on Jesus Christ, not Buddha, not Mohammed. God wants to know: what are you going to do with My Son, Jesus? Responses such as: “I go to church every week and I’m a good father or mother” have nothing to do with the gospel. The gospel centers on Jesus Christ.  Each of us must give a response to the resurrection.  And it may be no!  I reject the resurrection.  But you’re response may very well be – I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead; I love Jesus and I want to follow him – welcome to the revolution!  Your relationship with Jesus changes everything. 

Silent Saturday: The Day Between Death and Resurrection

Silent Saturday. That’s what we’ve come to call the second day, the day between crucifixion and resurrection. For the followers of Jesus left behind to grieve and prepare his body for burial, it must have been an odd day. What should they do? Cry? Hide? Leave? What do we do in the numbing silence hours after a loved one dies? They rested and wondered what was next.

But what about Jesus? Physically, there was rest. His body lay in the tomb. Spiritually, however, something else was happening.

Upon his death, Jesus’ spirit descended to Sheol (Hades). Sheol is the biblical concept of death prior to Jesus’ resurrection. When he died, Jesus went to the place of death. Sheol is where both the faithful and the unfaithful waited. The faithful awaited the Messiah to rescue them, as referenced in Psalm 139, Romans 10:7, and Luke 16.

When Jesus descended to Sheol, he was truly experiencing death. He was really dead! He remained under the power of death. Holy Saturday reminds us that Jesus entered death and stayed dead. The gap was long enough for him to genuinely taste death (Hebrews 2:9) and to endure the anguish of being in death’s grip (Acts 2:24). He fully entered the land from which no one returns, undertaking the profound loneliness of death as part of his mission to redeem us. His disciples experienced his death as if it were permanent. Remarkably, this is good news for us.

Just as Jesus took our sins, he has also taken all our lonely dying upon himself. Let the gap be the gap.

The Mockery of the Cross: Jesus’ Final Words and Victory

Cruel and mocking words followed Jesus to his death: “King of the Jews… Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God… He saved others, but he can’t save himself!” It may not have been surprising that he faced rejection in the end; after all, these were the same people who had turned away from him during his life. However, what likely made his death even more painful were the words he didn’t hear. He heard nothing from the Father—no words at all. Mocked. Forsaken. Abandoned. Alone. Jesus died.

To onlookers, it seemed as if it was all for nothing. Jesus appeared to be just another crucified man, lifeless on the side of the road.

Yet, what no one could see was what was happening on the other side. Once mocked, Jesus now triumphs over Death itself. “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).

On a hill far away, where the tree of death once stood, now stands the Tree of Life.

The Significance of Jesus as the Passover Lamb on Holy Thursday

Flesh, blood, atonement, love—this is the language of Holy Thursday. Jesus and his disciples find a room to remember Passover, the ancient celebration of Israel’s exodus from Egypt. On that Exodus night, the blood of the lamb spread on the doorposts of the Israelites atoned for their sins and protected them from the wrath of God that was poured out on Egypt.

Now, in an upper room, Jesus positions himself as that Passover lamb about to be sacrificed, whose blood will atone for sin and protect against God’s wrath. While the first Passover and the original (old) covenant focused on national Israel, Jesus expands the second (new) covenant to include all who confess faith in him. Those saved by the blood of Jesus the Lamb become a royal priesthood, “declaring the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9-10).

The mission of the Church is beautifully intertwined within the events of Holy Thursday. Jesus is the Lamb whose body was sacrificed and whose blood was shed to atone for and forgive the sins of those who confess faith in him. These believers become a movement of priests, declaring the gospel of freedom and taking on the Abrahamic mantle of blessing the nations (Genesis 12).

On Holy Thursday, how do you perceive your calling to share the gospel and bless the people closest to you?

Lessons from Jesus: Trust Amid Uncertainty

The Olivet Discourse is a significant part of Wednesday during Holy Week, found in Matthew 23-26, Mark 13, and Luke 20-21. In Mark’s account, Jesus speaks about the destruction of the Temple and urges his followers to pay attention to the signs of the end of the age. While much of what Jesus discusses in this Discourse is prophetically linked to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD by the Roman Empire, our contemporary American fascination with End Times interpretations can obscure the original meaning of his words. Nonetheless, the Discourse reminds Christians to trust in Jesus and remain steadfast when everything around them falls apart.

This reflection is especially relevant during Holy Week. When Jesus is arrested, his followers flee and become scattered, filled with fear and uncertainty about the future. Their world has been turned upside down. What about you? How do you respond when your life is unexpectedly shaken? Where do you turn when everything seems to collapse? If your refuge isn’t Jesus, you may be standing on sinking sand!

Bear Fruit

Tuesday of Holy Week is often associated with the story of Jesus cursing the fig tree. This passage can be difficult to understand. Many theologians interpret it as Jesus cursing the nation of Israel for failing to bear spiritual fruit. They were not worshipping God and, as a result, were not producing the characteristics of a godly life. The entire scene is quite sobering.

Jesus intends for each of us to bear fruit. The only way to do this is by staying connected to the vine (John 15). The vine represents Jesus, who is our source of life. Christian theology and history reveal that practices such as prayer, Bible study, fasting, serving, worship, and connecting with fellow believers are effective ways to remain connected to Jesus. Which of these practices are you engaging in this week as we draw closer to the cross?

Turning Tables

On this Monday of Holy Week, after entering Jerusalem as king, Jesus goes to the Temple. Once there, He overturns tables and calls the worshippers back to purity and holiness. People are healed, and children cry out, “Hosanna!”

As a follower of Jesus, you are the temple in which the presence of God dwells. The beginning of Holy Week presents an opportunity to reflect on purity and holiness. What does Jesus need to overturn in your life to take first place?

5 Game-Changing Lessons for Men

Turning fifty-five has caused me to become a bit more introspective. I won’t exhaust you with a list of 55 things I’ve learned in 55 years. I will offer 5 game-changing lessons I’ve made as a man, husband, father, pastor, and coach. Ignoring these will bring unnecessary pain.

#1 Make Decisions Based on Your Values. Solid values did not always drive my own decisions when I was younger. Pleasing others, climbing the ladder, and making a reputation distracted me. When I did reach what I thought was the pinnacle of my career I felt emptier than ever. Avoid unnecessary pain by discerning your values now and allowing every decision to flow easily from those values. You won’t be disappointed.

#2 Surround Yourself with These 4 People. Every man needs a supporter. This is someone who believes in you without question. Every man also needs a challenger. This is someone who challenges you to achieve more. Additionally, a questioner is necessary. They will keep you honest. Finally, a mentor or coach is important. This is someone you can turn to for advice and guidance.  

#3 You Will Fail. Fail Forward. In Russel Crowe’s Robinhood, there is a terrific statement about falling and failing. “Rise and rise again until lambs become lions.” I’ve held onto that statement. Everyone fails. Some fail and fall harder than others. Never stay down. Continue rising, learning, and falling again. Your character and tenacity will strengthen. Your naivety will shrink, and you will emerge the lion.

#4 Make a Difference for One Other Person. Life is hard. Many people find themselves lonely, broken, and hopeless. The greatest thing you can do is to pay attention to the people around you. Find at least one person you can help. It’s good for you – serving defeats selfishness and is good for them.

#5 It’s Never Too Late. You missed opportunities when you were younger. Now you know better. Make changes. Forgive. Heal. Rebound. You are never done until you’re dead. Get your mission straight and start living.

I’d like to know if any of these make sense to you. Do they confirm your experience? Let me know. If I can help you walk through any of these, reach out.

You’re Disappointed in Ministry Because You’re Burned Out.

We’ve been taught to focus on outcomes. The outcome defines personal and ministry success. And if we don’t achieve the expected outcome, we begin to devalue ourselves. Too many failures and we end up in the pit of despair.

A recent post on PositivePsychology.com provides substance to my statement.

“Employees who experience burnout will initially primarily complain of exhaustion. This exhaustion may be referred to as fatigue, tiredness, or feeling low on energy. It appears unshakeable. The fatigue is chronic (i.e., long-term) and continuous.

Next, employees suffering from burnout will appear pessimistic about their work. Their pessimism can manifest in various ways. For example, they may adopt an overtly negative view of their work. Their pessimism can be less overt and more subtle; for example, they may appear unmotivated, disinterested, or uncommitted.

As a result, employees will report feeling despondent about their performance and output in the workplace.”[1]

The phrase that stands out to me in this excerpt is “pessimistic about their work.” This is a great way of describing disappointment. Where have you been disappointed in ministry lately?

Because the Christian ministry leader works with people, there is always an opportunity to be disappointed or let down. We should expect those moments. But, sometimes, the one you’re most disappointed in is yourself. Or, maybe God.

For me, I’ve most often struggled with disappointment when those I led did not live up to my expectations. The outcome was not what I wanted, so I spiraled down into disappointment, frustration, and loneliness, eventually doubting my calling and ability to lead.

I wonder how many other Christian ministry leaders can identify with this.

We’ve been taught to focus on outcomes. The outcome defines personal and ministry success. And if we don’t achieve the expected outcome, we begin to devalue ourselves. Too many failures and we end up in the pit of despair.

Ministry becomes all about what you can do and achieve! If you’re successful in what you do, that just feeds the machine. You stack your successes, and you look like a genius until the wrong Jenga block is pulled out. Everything falls, and you don’t know what to do.

Outcome-based ministry is destroying good Christian ministry leaders.

We need a different ministry model. A model that orbits around Jesus and who he is making you as his follower and as a leader of his people.

Joseph Stowell has some great insight into all of this when he writes that we need Character-driven leaders “whose exemplary lives influence and empower those within the sphere of their authority to achieve great outcomes personally, spiritually, communally, and organizationally…The power behind their leadership is leveraged by their moral authority that comes from the credibility of their lives.”[2]

Character-driven leadership can break the cycle of disappointment and burnout among Christian ministry leaders. Why? It’s a leadership model that is focused on your discipleship.

In short, you’re not building the kingdom. Jesus is building his kingdom by building you. Your task as a leader is the same task of every follower of Jesus: allow the Holy Spirit to produce his fruit in you (Galatians 5). There are multiple ways for this to happen, but it begins with submission to the Spirit and not CEO strategies.

Matthew gives us insight into all of this when he writes about a parable Jesus taught (Matthew 25:14-30). Stowell comments on this,

Consistently, Scripture calls us to choose character-driven leadership. In the story of the ten talents, those who successfully stewarded the master’s estate were rewarded with this character-affirming declaration: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” While outcomes are not unimportant in the story, the affirmation is about the character of the steward that produced the outcomes – affirmation about who the steward is (good and faithful) and an affirmation about how the steward leads (servant).[3]

Leadership is, first and foremost, about character. The leader’s character drives the ministry.

So, Christian ministry leader, if you’re spiraling down into the pit of disappointment and despair, use it as a time of retreat and healing. Take care of your relationship with Jesus. Hear him speak these words of life into your spirit – “well done good and faithful servant.”

Break out of the American trap of trying to build your spiritual empire. This trap leads to disappointment. Instead, let the Holy Spirit produce his fruit in you and transform you from the inside out. The character transformation will be evident to those you are called to lead. They’ll most likely respond to your leadership because you have a new authority that comes from the credibility of your life. And, if they don’t respond, you’re still secure with Jesus, and maybe Jesus will start working in their lives differently.

If you’re disappointed in ministry, redefine your leadership!

___________________

If this article has been helpful, let me know. If you’re a Christian ministry leader struggling with burnout, frustration, or disappointment and reconsidering your call, reach out to me before making any big decisions. I help burned-out Christian ministry leaders discover their next assignment in life.

[1] Alicia Nortje, “What Is Burnout? 16 Signs and Symptoms of Excessive Stress,” PositivePsychology.com, February 27, 2021, What Is Burnout? 16 Signs and Symptoms of Excessive Stress (positivepsychology.com).

[2] Joseph Stowell, Redefining Leadership: Character-Driven Habits of Effective Leaders (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing, 2014), 24.

[3] Ibid., 27.

Your Boys Shall Be Kings

Boys need strong masculine influence, especially from their fathers. But, the truth is, most men must also acknowledge their lack of strong, influential fathers.

There is a war on the masculine soul. Many boys are growing up with no real masculine influence. Gender confusion is rising. In many places (homes, offices, institutional churches), a Feminist worldview is blocking the male energy. Just within the last year or two, a father in Texas lost his lawsuit to keep his son’s mother from raising the boy as a female. Before we fully see the damage among men and boys in our Western culture, it may be another generation.

Boys need strong masculine influence, especially from their fathers. But, the truth is, most men must also acknowledge their lack of strong, influential fathers.

You may regret that your dad was absent from your development. You may have missed the relationship you saw other boys have with their dads. Maybe you wished that your dad threw a ball with you, listened to your questions about girls or cars, or cared about what you wanted to be when you grew up.

For some men, there is a dad-shaped hole in their lives. John Eldredge writes, “Every boy on his journey to becoming a man takes an arrow in the center of his heart, in the place of his strength. Because the wound is rarely discussed and rarely healed, every man carries a wound. And the wound is nearly always given by his father.”

During the early quarantine of the Covid pandemic, my youngest son took up skateboarding. He got pretty good. So for Christmas, he wanted a snowboard. I was hesitant. He’d never snowboarded before. He watched some YouTubers and thought it would be fun. I told him it was nothing like skateboarding. But he was determined.

So, he got a snowboard.

That weekend we hit the slopes. He hurried to the ski lift and rode it up a moderate hill. Until then, he had only practiced on a small hill in our yard. This slope was formidable for a beginner. He stepped onto his board and nudged to the edge of the mountain. As I watched from below, I saw him push off…and fall! Then I saw him get up, get his balance and go again. He fell. He fell just about all the way down the hill.

When he reached the bottom, I could see frustration and disappointment on his face. He had forgotten how long it took him to balance his skateboard and learn those techniques. I could see the disconnect in his eyes. “I can skate. Why isn’t it working on slopes?”

As he sat at the bottom of the hill, I knew this was an influential moment. So rather than an “I told you so,” I said, “Good try.” His response? “I think I’ll try a smaller hill.” I agreed. He boarded for two hours. Falling often. But encouraged frequently. “Bend your knees. Keep your head up. Give it another try.” By the following weekend, he was cruising! He returned to the hill that gave him his first defeat and boarded down without falling! He’s getting better.

What would have happened if I did say, “I told you so. You’ll never get this. Pack it in!” Those words would have been an arrow through his heart. He would live with a deep wound.

Masculinity is bestowed from one man to another. From a man to a boy. From a father to a son. A boy learns who he is and what he’s got from a man. He cannot learn it from a woman. He cannot learn it from other boys. The father must bless his son, conferring masculinity upon him. Then boys will become kings.

A sad reality is that many men are walking around trying to find the blessing their father never gave them. Men are looking for help, respect, and guidance – a picture of real masculinity – never given to them, thus crippling their growth from boyhood to manhood. You may be one of those men.

The curse can stop with you! You may be crippled, creeping through life without your father’s blessing. That hurts! It can be undone but will require focused work and significant mentoring by other men. But you must not pass this on to your sons. Stop the bleeding. Bless your boy.

How will you get this done? Here’s what’s always worked. Use this as a starting point.

  1. Time spent makes a world of difference. Looking back on my own life, I have few memories of time spent with my father.

Some of the most recent research suggests that the average dad spends seven minutes daily on focused attention. That’s not going to get it done! Absenteeism may cause your son to feel emotionally distressed, guilty, or sad. Over time, a lack of attention could lead your son into risky behavior.

  • Blaze some trails together. Share an adventure. Walking through the woods is bonding time well spent. In ancient cultures, there was the belief that a boy only becomes a man through ritual and effort. There is a story from one tribal tradition where the men take the boys away for initiation. They are taken away from their mothers and into the woods. When he returns, the mother pretends not to know her son and asks to be introduced to “this young man.” What a beautiful picture of passage from boyhood into manhood. The son moves from his mother’s world to his father’s world.
  • Show them how to be strong. My boys loved the wrestling matches on the living room floor when they were younger. They’d come and jump on me, hungering for a challenge and physical touch. They’d try and pin me down. As they got older (and stronger), it was arm wrestling. Boys love to test their strength.

Your strength will inspire them. They’ll care for themselves in the way they see you care for yourself. Your strength and confidence will inspire them.

  • Help them discover their purpose. We no longer have the gift of apprenticeship built into our culture. There were days when boys could learn a valuable craft that would produce a remarkable career. But boys still need help discovering their gifts and purpose.

We talk about this often in my house. We see the value not only in education but in living life with purpose, finding a way to do what you love pivoting when necessary. My boys have always been encouraged to try many new experiences. Sometimes their choices have surprised me, but I appreciate their willingness to try.

The war on the masculine soul is real. Boys and men are on the front line every day. We are in the battle whether we want to be or not.  Save your son and give him a fighting chance!

A boy will never be a man if his masculinity is stripped from him. The world is full of men who have never been initiated into manhood. Don’t miss the chance you have.