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Our Comment of the Month winner for the month of May is Matt Birschbac, AKA Goldeneye. The comment I selected is comment #35 from What Doesn’t Work, written by hoverFrog:
Below you will read Matt’s guest post. Let’s give him a nice warm welcome.
Graduation, Chemistry Parties and God’s Love
I spent this past Sunday at my sister’s high school graduation. I had graduated from the same high school only a few years earlier. At first the graduation was quite underwhelming. A steady stream of people came late, walking into the auditorium and taking the focus away from the soon to be newly minted graduates and student speakers.
Then it came time for the speech that I assume is common place throughout high school graduations everywhere. A member of the faculty or a successful graduate, or maybe just someone who has navigated life’s journey in a way one can be proud of, gets up in front of the graduating student body to impart his or her knowledge upon them.
In this case the speaker was my former chemistry teacher. A quirky guy to be sure and not an accomplished lecturer. In chemistry class I remember him constantly telling us obscure chemistry facts so we could impress everyone at “chemistry parties.” Since I’ve never been to one, I’m still not sure what such a mythical beast would look like - I just hope chemical equations would not replace pizza, mostly because I would not want to imagine a party without pizza. While he did have an understated sense of humor I wasn’t expecting much. He even started out his speech by telling us what his daughter said when he told her he was giving the commencement address: “Just keep it short!”
Many of the points he started out with I’m sure are common themes during the average graduation speech. As a teacher he was a in a unique position to talk about the accomplishments of the class. He talked about the state championship winning football team, and how much money the National Honor Society raised. And because he had a daughter in cheerleading, he talked about that for awhile. Coincidently I’m sure, the crowd took a two minute nap at about this time. He talked about the graduates’ path for the future and how chemistry knowledge should never be used for evil.
Where he took the speech next was completely expected for this is a Christian school, and yet it is one of the most radical ideas to ever come in contact with our human natures. He talked about our Savior Jesus Christ. He could have talked about Jesus in the context his name is so often used today: Jesus is a buddy, a good teacher, someone who helped others, a wise man, a person who will help us gain peace and prosperity, or someone who will help us do good. None of these things were more than hinted at.
Instead my former chemistry teacher hit on the crux of the matter; Jesus Christ lived and died and rose from the dead for us. He fixed our eyes where they need to be fixed, “on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross.”
When it comes to our life’s journey a Christian would be hard pressed to focus on anything but him or herself. It is human nature to focus on one’s self. What can I do? Isn’t this the focus of the average commencement address? Such a speech is usually broken down into two parts. The graduates are honored, and they are told that their future should be one of both self and world betterment. My chemistry teacher and the Bible define this as law; the law is what we should do. It is what God requires.
At this point the auditorium filled with a thousand or so people was no longer listening to a standard graduation speech. My chemistry teacher implied that the graduates’ past had been filled with both wise and foolish acts; their future is certain to be one of the same. None of those acts were going to be perfect. Most of them would be sin filled. In effect, when faced with the law, we always slip up here or there. We haven’t always been the perfect child when our parents require it of us. We might lie to our boss to get out of work. We might cheat on our significant other. We might even commit the gravest of errors; we might not do our chemistry homework on time.
What we realize is that living up to God’s expectations is an impossible feat. It humbles us to the point that we do something we really have never considered before. We are forced to see that we are weak and that saving ourselves is an unattainable goal. It is like digging rocks out of an area in order to prepare a garden. It takes a lot of sweat but one can do it. However, hopelessness sinks in when we realize that the topsoil is actually laying on bedrock. It is a struggle but when we tear our sight off of ourselves, we can finally look to the cross.
When we see those who have had to struggle and face the horrors of life, we usually think of the dregs of society. Likewise, people who make life changing sacrifices are in such a circumstance because they are forced into it. So when it’s not the criminal or the beggar we see on the cross, but the almighty God it is a shock. It is a paradoxical statement, but true none-the-less that God’s power is shown most perfectly as he suffers on the cross. It is the ultimate statement of servanthood. Washing his disciples’ feet showed only a glimpse of Jesus’ love for his disciples and in turn his love for us. His death on the cross and subsequent resurrection is the culmination of God’s plan and the epitome of love. We are saved not by anything we do, but through the love of our Savior, a love so vast that he suffered the sins of the world and the pain of the cross for us.
When we look to the cross and see Jesus suffering what often comes to mind is the worst of humanity. While my former teacher did not delve into the details, crucifixion truly is one of the most gruesome forms of capital punishment ever devised by man kind. The public spectacle began when Jesus had a nail driven through his hands and feet. Surely the pain at this point must have been overwhelming. Whether Jesus finally died because of asphyxiation or the anguishing pain itself we are not told. However, we are given a glimpse into what he was thinking before his death when he says this about those who crucified him: “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do”. Likewise he says to the thief being crucified along with him “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise”. At the time the sins of the world were heaped upon Jesus and he was suffering hell itself, Jesus was radiating forgiveness, compassion and love. Especially during the depths of suffering Jesus was our mighty God, prince of peace and most importantly our Savior.
This is the point that came through to me as my former chemistry teacher talked about Jesus’ death and resurrection. It is the gospel message that I feel so blessed to have heard every single day I had been privileged to attend this Christian high school and hear the daily chapel service. We should be captivated by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Such amazing grace is something I am deeply thankful for. To have a Lord that cares for me so much that it is difficult to comprehend is awe inspiring. So let’s focus on the cross and on our Savior were we can joyfully stand in the presence of such great love.
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I want this
on the wall of my secret sanctum.
Actually I tend to think of people who have triumphed over or endured great adversity. Men like Christopher Reeves and Stephen Hawking. Yes, they are forced into a life of adversity and didn’t choose to be betrayed by their bodies. I take your point though.
According to the story that I’m familiar with the spectacle began before then. The crown of thorns and having to carry the instrument of his on execution can’t have been fun even compared to being nailed to a cross.
As an aside I heard somewhere that the Romans didn’t start using crosses until 70AD, prior to that a single pole or tree was used. I’m not entirely sure if this is accurate or not but I thought I’d include it in my comment for added flavour.
As an atheist I am filled with revulsion and horror at the spectacle of the crucifixion. Why it has been chosen as a symbol of your faith? If Jesus had been burnt rather than nailed up would the faith use a flame? If he’d been fed to lions would you use a lion? if he’d been racked would the symbol of Christianity be a torture rack or the twisted Jug of Newhon? It’s a horrible reminder of torture and suffering.
The dove or the fish are much better.
hoverfrog, I’ve heard this too but I have also heard that there were situations (and the fossils to prove it) before 70AD that nails were used. But I would have to look at this more.
yeah I understand. It’s one of those things that remind us that great sacrifice was given for ourselves.
But I like the fish and dove too.
I also want to add: Good post Goldeneye. Do you prefer that or Matt?
Kristina, actually thinking about it more, we humans have used the symbols of our oppression to gather strength to a cause. The pink triangle for gay people in Nazi Germany is an obvious example but more recently atheists have started to talk about making April 1st a point of celebration. It’s a joke in many ways but quite serious in others.
So while the idea of being nailed to a tree or a cross is revolting I can appreciate why Christians would latch on to it.
Another aside: Have you read Tad Williams’ Dragonbone Chair series? They’re fantasy books with fantasy religion in the background. They follow the martyred man who the enemy abuse and mock as a “man on a stick”. It’s not central to the story at all but makes for added flavour. They’re worth a read.
I think the cross is a wonderful reminder of what Jesus went through in our place. It was torture and suffering, but as Isaiah 53:5 reminds us…
He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
The cross is not symbolic for Christians because of what mankind did to the Son of God. It is beautiful because it is where Christ laid down his life as an atonement for our sin. It was a place where the wrath and anger of God, for the infinite sins of man, could be satisfied, God’s justice could be preserved, and yet the love of God could also be revealed to us as well. The cross was a place where all the characters of God are shown to us. His Love, His Mercy, His Justice, His Grace, and the fulfillment of His Promise to restore us through Jesus Christ our Lord.
His Blood has washed away our sin. Jesus, thank you!
hmm never heard of Tad Williams. I’ll look him up.
Oh and on the crucifixion thing, there was a who had a nail embedded in his ankle and a scratch on one of his wrist. The man’s name was Yehohanan ben Hagkol and his death was dated around Jesus’s time.
HoverFrog
You can call me Matt. Goldeneye was my favorite video game as a child. Is their any back story behind the name HoverFrog?
I was also aware that Jesus was tortured before the nails were driven into his hands and feet. I thought about changing it, but since I was focusing on the crucifixtion I kept it the way it was.
I’m not sure who the book question was directed towards, but I’ll answer it anyways. I haven’t read the Dragonbone Chair series, but every once in awhile I like a good sci fi book (which is closely related to the fantasy genre). My favorites are the first Dune book, and the entire Enders Game series. Dune is filled with all kinds of crazy imaginative stuff but still finds time to include aspects of politics, philosophy, and of course religion. Also the main character is very much a messiah figure.
Right now I’m I’m actually reading two books about England: The Mother Tongue (English and how it got that way), and Notes From a Small Island.
Jason said:
As symbolism goes it is certainly powerful but the torture and suffering seem to be so very unnecessary. Do you know that some people actually crucify themselves to atone for their sins? I’d rather they handed out bread rolls or fish to people.
If he wanted to remove the stain of our sin from the OT then why not just make it so. The sacrifice and particularly the gruesome nature of it just smack of grandstanding and showmanship. I’d rather people concentrated on the positive lessons than the torture, that’s all.
I’d rather they just read scripture. We can’t earn our way into heaven. If I could die for my sins, I gladly would, but I can’t. I am stained by sin just like everyone else. The only person who could die for our sins (as a perfect sacrifice) was Jesus.
If these people who crucify themselves would simply read the scripture (Eph. 2:8-9) they would see:
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
It’s sad that these people don’t understand the message of Christ. They feel the weight and burden of their sin, and they obviously want to be set free…But that freedom only comes from a faith in Jesus Christ. No one will get to heaven based on something they did to make up for the sin in their lives. Even our righteous deeds are like filthy rags to God, because we are stained by sin. The blood of Christ is the only thing that can wash away our sins, so that in the end God gets the Glory and we get the blessing!
I understand your point, but I feel like you are missing mine. Of course we look at the cross and say wow, why would God make Jesus go through that? Why not just tell everyone that they are forgiven and let that be that?
The answer is sin. I feel like too many people today have lost the sense of just how awful their sin truly is. It’s not small. It is an infinite crime against an infinite God. The punishment for our sin must be equally as significant. If God is love, than sin is hate. If God is light than sin is darkness. If God gives us life, than sin brings us death.
There is a reason that Jesus had to go through what he did on the cross and why it was done in the fashion that it was. It was to display [publicly] to the entire world how serious sin truly is. Romans 3:23-37 tells us exactly why the death on the cross was necessary. You say it was ‘showmanship’ or ‘grandstanding’ but I say it was justice.
Jason, I appreciate your patience but I’m still not at all certain of what sin is. I don’t feel like I have some revolting stain on my character that needs cleaning up. I particularly don’t want anyone to suffer on my behalf. If I have some deficiency then wouldn’t it be better for it to be removed rather than mitigated. That’s what you’re saying the sacrifice of Jesus is aren’t you? A mitigation of a sin rather than the expulsion of it?
You see if the story is to have any real impact the act has to actually remove the sin rather than just allow people to live with it. Dying for our sins should take them from us so that we no longer have them. Either that is the case in the story and means that we are no longer marked with sin (whatever that really means) or that the sacrifice was for nothing. Either dying for our sins negates them or it does not. Either we are marked with sin still and the sacrifice is meaningless or we are cleansed of sin and no longer under it’s influence.
HoverFrog
By the way, the annonymous comment was mine (Goldenye) - just forgot to type my name in.
Also, I agree with Jason when he expands on the point that sin really is terrible. I wanted my post to focus on God’s love, but if I ever start a blog or post here again maybe it’ll focus moreso on the law and on sin.
A point I was really hoping to get across in my post is that God can work good and - and in the case of the cross, even salvation - through the absolute worst of acts. The horror and the gruesomeness of the crucifixtion were real, but I think it’s extremely powerful when one contrasts it with the love of God.
I didn’t go into detail about it, but I did mention the ressurection briefly. If you mention the Christ’s death without the resurrection it’s pointless. The resurrection is the triumph over death and over evil. Christ is victorious, and now so are we.
In the best action movies, the villans are usually especially bad. It makes the movie all the better when the hero ends up winning. Maybe it’s a poor analogy (and it only covers one detail) but I think it works to explain why Christians should focus on the cross so much. A sinfilled life is what we’re all up against and I think the cross shows just how dreadful sin can be. However, when we see Jesus face such sin with love and compassion and he comes to life again - in effect defeating sin and one of the consequences which is death - we’re that much more amazed by his forgiveness and love. And it’s epecially great that he was doing this all for us.
Maybe I can explain better when I’m not rushed for time.
Hoverfrog:
I love this conversation, and I appreciate your patience as well. Although scripture speaks greatly of sin and what it is, I find John Piper’s explanation very helpful in understanding what sin is:
Now, to you other statements:
Although you might be [and you do seem to be] a very decent person, we are not held accountable to man’s standards. We are held accountable to God’s standards for man. If God is the creator of the universe, then it really doesn’t matter how we see ourselves at all. It only truly matters how God sees us. And the Bible leaves no room for question in that area.
That is fine, but that doesn’t mean you have a choice in that matter. Christ has already died in your place. The only choice you have left is to accept that free gift of grace with repentance and faith in Christ as your atonement, or to reject it.
Just in case anyone is interested in the resource I used from John Piper:
Here it is
Matt, sorry I missed your comments earlier. The book comment was aimed at Kristina but is, of course, open to everyone. It’s always good to know what people are reading.
“hoverFrog” comes from my education is Object Oriented Programming, particularly in the idea of inheritance. You have a class, Amphibian, with certain characteristics, that are inherited by the class, Frog. Some characteristics and properties are modified in the new class. You can demonstrate this by adding a new property to the Frog class to make a new class. Add the property “hover” and you get hoverFrog. See, simple. It’s not my real name though. My real name is Jason. Just don’t tell Jason because it’ll get confusing.
I do have a question though. Why are we so filled with sin? What is it that makes us so despicable in your eyes? If the stain or original sin has been paid for, as Jason says, then what makes us so bad? I can see that we have steps to improve ourselves as a race and as individuals, we want to maximise our potential to get the most out of life and give the most back to our communities but that isn’t really what you’re talking about is it?
Is it that we don’t give enough respect for what we have?
Jason, you say that God sees us in a poor light, that we are lowly and vile in his eyes. I’m putting words into your mouth but I get the impression that this is the sentiment that you’re trying to put across. If God does indeed view us so unfavourably I wonder how he can possibly profess to love us? Certainly love us enough to suffer torture and execution on our behalf.
Onto the resurrection. I don’t believe a word of it, I’m afraid, but for arguments sake let’s assume that it occurred despite the muddled reporting in the bible. If the resurrection occurred then doesn’t that invalidate the sacrifice. Dying for our sins is only really a sacrifice if Jesus actually gets to die. That is especially true if he had foreknowledge of the resurrection.
The list Jason mentioned does a good job of defining what sin is. If we are not loving God with all our heart - and the actions that would follow from that - we are sinning.
All our sin has been paid for, both our original sin and the sin we continue to commit every day. However, that does not change the fact that we do continue to sin. What Jesus’ death and resurrection changes is that now we are free from the worst consequences of sin. We are saved and are victorious over hell and instead we get to be with him in heaven.
Your following question is also an interesting one. Indeed God does consider us in a lowly and vile light. I like the lost son parable Jesus uses. A man’s son takes his share of his inheritence, squanders everything in wild living and ashamed, he comes back to his father. He is sure it’s too late for his father to love him once again, so he is just looking for a job.
Here’s the rest
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21″The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22″But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”
I’m sure the son did a lot of things that could be considered extremely foolish and vile. Indeed the son even says he sinned against heaven and his father; these things obviously would not have been condoned by his father, but his father loves him anyway.
As to your last question, of course Jesus’ death and resurrection counts as a sacrifice. He suffered not just the physical pain of the crucifixtion, but he had to humble himself to live in the body of a man in for over 30 years. He also bore the weight of the sins of mankind, which sounds worst of all.
It’s would also be a purposeless sacrifice if Jesus stayed died - we would still have to face the consequences of our sins. Jesus died for a reason - not just, as you put it, to be a sacrifice. He died to save us from sin and eternal death, so it’s a good thing he could conquer those things himself.