The Galilean Spring? 

“No one can take my life from me. I lay down my life voluntarily.“
John 10:18 (NLT)

There have been those who saw in Jesus’ life “a Galilean Spring”, a time when men decided to make him King.  It was a time when the disciples also expected him to declare his majesty and bring about the Kingdom of God on earth. And it would appear that even towards the end of his life, the disciples still couldn’t get their heads around the fact that he was going to die, even though he had told them many times. (Mark 8:31, 9: 1, Luke 9:22, 44)

Notice what Matthew records: “From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that he had to go to Jerusalem, and told them what would happen to him there. He would suffer at the hands of the leaders and the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, and would be raised on the third day.” (Matthew 16: 21)  To me, that’s pretty straight forward; that’s telling it like it is and coming from Jesus himself, it’s completely believable. Wouldn’t you agree? But notice verse 22 here: “But Peter took him aside and corrected him. “Heaven forbid Lord.” He said. “This will never happen to you!”

But it did, just as Christ said it would and, because they didn’t quite get it, they were bereft and, utterly devastated by his death. It meant no Kingdom on earth at that time, no uprising to drive out the Romans and to bring freedom to everyone. But if we really think about it we can clearly see that there was indeed the beginning of a universal spring, being triggered by the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus to the right hand of the Father. What Jesus achieved by his sacrifice was reconciliation for all people, but it is not yet being enjoyed by all people. Jesus is the Reconciler who brings this peace and oneness—Paul declares; “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Colossians 1: 19-20 RSV)

It is only here, in reconciliation with God, by acknowledging that Jesus is Saviour and Lord for everyone who has ever lived or ever will live, that through him and in him we look forward to a world of peace and fulfilment, in the perfection and the glory which is yet to be revealed but has already been won on Golgotha—a “Universal Spring!”

Prayer
Please Father,  send your Son Jesus, the great Prince of Peace, back to this war torn planet to bring about that “Universal Spring” that we are all longing for.
Amen

Study by Cliff Neill

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About the Author:
Cliff Neill is an Elder in Grace Communion Church Luton.

Local  Congregation:
Grace Communion Church Luton
Farley Hill Methodist Church
North Drift Way
Farley Hill
LUTON
LU1 5JE

Meeting Time:
Saturday 10:30am

Local Congregational Contact:
Harry Sullivan
Phone:  01908-582222
Email: harry_sullivan@wcg.org.uk