We've arrived, not to the Passion of Christ, yet, but into the very plan of our redemption.

We’ve arrived, not to the Passion of Christ yet, but into the very plan of our redemption.

From the beginning of human history God already planned to save his creation from eternal death.  From Genesis, God said to the serpent  “Because you have done this, you shall be banned from all the animals, and from all the wild creatures; On your belly shall you crawl and dirt shall you eat all the days of your life.  I Will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head while you strike at her heel.”  (Gn 3: 14 - 15).

Be careful to understand God didn't create even the tiniest semblance of disobedience in order to send his Son to save us.  God always had in mind to share his glory with all of mankind, if they wanted it, but as with the fact that for every up there is a down, and for every sin there is mercy.  “The law entered in so that transgression might increase but, where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through justification  for eternal life through Jesus Christ  our Lord.”  (Rom 5: 20 - 21).

We may ask, why didn’t God just create humans to do his will instead of the free will that sits as the entity that man must learn how to use properly?  Simply, God wanted man to come to him on their own accord and not through the strings of a puppeteer.  Can you for one moment imagine sinners sitting with God in eternity mocking him and every other human being for their place in heaven?

If you are spinning a wheel of clay and allow one project to become a piece of pottery with flaws but decide to allow its position on a shelf to remain your reputation would be one of a “ho hum” pottery maker and no one would seek your wares any more.  Of course, with God that wouldn’t be the case.  However, the perfection of God as creator of us and everything we see and use must be pure and perfect as he is as well.  So, free will was the only manner for us to seek God, his mercy, and total forgiveness, on our own accord.  

When preparing for specific celebrations within the auspicious events of our beliefs in Christ and our redemption, we always take time to place our needs and weaknesses all in one basket.  Advent and the four weeks spent before Christmas, the main thrust should be one of great anticipation of living on the shadow of the prophecies God hands us through men who knew God first and were willing to spread this good news to the future of humanity.  The message was all the same, prepare yourselves for the time to come.  John the Baptist went throughout the whole region of the Jordan proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of Isaiah;  “A voice of one crying out in the desert; prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.  Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low.  The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”  (Lk 3: 3 - 6).

During Lent, we await the sign of our salvation mentioned in Advent and prepare to become one with the very prediction found throughout the Old Testament; “For Zion’s sake, I will not be silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her vindication shines forth like the dawn and her victory like a burning torch.  Nations shall behold your vindication, and all kings your glory; You shall be called by a new name pronounced by the mouth of the Lord.  You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the Lord, a royal diadem held by your God.  No more shall men call you “Forsaken,” or your land “Desolate,” But you shall be called “My Delight,” and your land “Espoused.”  For the Lord delights in you and makes your land his spouse.  As a young man marries a virgin, your builder shall marry you; And as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you.”  (Is 62: 1 - 5).  

The ultimate outcome of the Passion of Christ and the final battle where God is triumphant as in Revelation.  “Then I heard something like the sound of a great multitude or the sound of rushing water or mighty peals of thunder, as they said: “Alleluia!  The Lord has established his reign, our God the Almighty.  Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory.  For the wedding day of the Lamb has come, his bride has made herself ready.  She was allowed to wear a clean linen garment.”  (Rv 19:  6 - 8).  Again, the triumph of the Cross on Easter Sunday culminates with the final glory when Christ comes at the end of time with all of the saints and proclaims victory for you and me.   

Ralph B. Hathaway