Nehemiah 1:3-5

When you wake up every morning, inevitably two eyes will look you in the face. In some form or fashion, sin stares us down as soon as we awake. The brokenness of this world is inescapable, although we certainly do attempt retreat from it. In fact, that is one of the options you have every day when faced with the brokenness in your life: paralysis and retreat. You can see some broken relationship, some pain in your life, some tragedy, or even a besetting sin in your own life, and you can quit. You could throw your arms up, and feel so broken over the pain that you are paralyzed, unable to move in any direction but into yourself. However, there’s another option here, one many of us would prefer to take, and it is just as cowardly. We don’t even make it into the brokenness game, because we would prefer simply to ignore it. Act as if it isn’t even there. We live in this self made world where, if we see some effect of sin around us, we can operate in the bliss of ignorance. It is as if our chin is so turned up to the brokenness, that our eyes can see it. Or at least that’s the way we would prefer it.

But deep down inside of us, we all know these postures toward brokenness are a farce. Ignorance and paralysis are just two ways to make our own way out of the sin of this world. But unfortunately they can only get you so far. Consider Nehemiah here, who doesn’t run to either pole, but moves in a uniquely redemptive direction. His beloved city of Jerusalem is destroyed, and so how does he respond? He weeps, fasts, and prays for 4 months. He grieves. He mourns. He doesn’t let his heart get callous and jaded. He simply weeps. Yet at some point I imagine him, in the middle of this period or mourning and praying, remember the story that he is in. He gets caught up in the current of the river of redemption. He sees a picture of what God’s world is supposed to be like, and it includes a glorious city of Jerusalem, not a broken one. So he responds. He uses all of the practical, relational, political resources that he has, and he moves straight into the brokenness. He goes to the city to rebuild it.

What a picture of Jesus himself. Where would we be if Jesus looked at us with jaded ignorance, and just gave up? What if he just said, “They’re too far gone! There’s nothing that can be done!” And of course we know that he didn’t. He wept at the tomb of Lazarus. In the garden of Gethsemane, his soul was broken by the task before him. Luke tells us that “his sweat became like great drops of blood” as he considered the cross that was looming over him. And in this moment of conversation with his Father, time almost stands still. He could have quit then. He could have been so paralyzed by the pain he was about to feel, that he could have walked away. But he turned his face toward Golgotha, and he went. Our Savior wept, but he also redeemed. And that is our job as well. The world is broken, and we should let ourselves feel it. And then, with the power of the cross, we can move into the brokenness of this world as instruments in the hands of our blessed Redeemer.

Kyle

O God of my Exodus, Great was the joy of Israel’s sons, when Egypt died upon the shore, Far greater the joy when the Redeemer’s foe lay crushed in the dust.

Jesus strides forth as the victor, conqueror of death, hell, and all opposing might;

He bursts the bands of death, tramples the powers of darkness down, and lives forever.

He, my gracious surety, apprehended for payment of my debt, comes forth from the house of the grave free, and triumphant over sin, Satan, and death.

Show me herein the proof that his vicarious offering is accepted, that the claims of justice are satisfied, the the devil’s scepter is shivered, that his wrongful throne is levelled

Give me the assurance that in Christ I died, in him I rose, in his life I live, in his victory I triumph, in his ascension I shall be glorified.

Adorable Redeemer, thou who wast lifted upon a cross art ascended to highest heaven.

Thou, who as Man of Sorrows was crowned with thorns, art now Lord of life wreathed with glory.

Once, no shame more deep than thine, no agony more bitter, no death more cruel.

Now, no exaltation more high, no life more glorious, no advocate more effective.

Thou art in the triumph car leading captive thine enemies behind thee.

What more could be done than thou hast done!

Thy death is my life, thy resurrection my peace, thy ascension my hope, thy prayers my comfort.

Resurrection, a prayer from the Puritan Valley of Vision

I hope that your risen Savior is an encouragement to you today wherever life has taken you.

The whole host of American Christian experience lauds the death of Christ for our sins. In fact, that is what Paul does here: “That Christ died for our sins is of first importance.” We love that, and it is the flagship event for a personal relationship with Jesus. Yet, if you’re like me, we often pass right over the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. We forget that without it, the cross is nothing. More importantly, we forget the power that the resurrection brings to our lives. The resurrection changes our relationships, our work, our emotional life, the things we sacrifice for, the way we parent, and a host of other parts of our lives. If you haven’t taken this truth down into your bones, Paul says, then think about it. Think through all of the ways the resurrection must have happened, and even if you believe it to be true, think on it again.

There are innumerable reasons why the resurrection must have happened, among which Paul lists all of the people that the risen Christ appeared to. Yet, above and beyond those appearances, the whole world subtly but surely proclaims that the resurrection can’t not be true. If it isn’t we’re all hopeless. All of the suffering, pain, and death in our lives will reign forever if the resurrection is not true. Sadness will grow. Satan’s power will flourish. Yet, in the life of the Christian, little bursts of life begin to explode. The little deaths in our lives turn to little injections of heaven into a broken world. The non-Christian can’t know this, because it is only the work of the Holy Spirit, yet the longing is still there in every heart. To use the words of Mumford and Sons…

“And if your strife strikes at your sleep
Remember spring swaps snow for leaves
You’ll be happy and wholesome again
When the city clears and sun ascends.”

You see for the Christian, we not only embody the death of Christ, we take on the resurrection as well. If you find yourself closer to death than resurrection right now, take heart, for He is Risen!

Kyle