Vast oceans, gorgeous valleys, raging rivers, and majestic mountains show us a beauty that seems beyond this world. They seem to be created for us. Humanity’s deepest desires for hope, peace, joy and love seem beyond this world as well.
God’s Story - God’s Narrative - has always been one of love. In the Creation story, God creates the stunning flora and magnificent fauna. God finishes His work by creating humanity and begins a relationship of Love with them.
Humanity has stumbled and fallen so many times in so many desperate ways, yet a glimmer of hope seems to always remain. We still seem to find examples of sweeping stories of friendship, care, heroism, and love. These quiet whispers of what humanity was meant to be still live on in our hearts.
Jesus was born in an average town in an average way. As He began His ministry, suddenly people began noticing that He possessed a Light and Love that were beyond this world; in fact, He seemed to be Light and Love. The quiet whispers of the hope of humanity were somehow fulfilled all at once. Jesus modeled a life of grace, mercy, and forgiveness. He refused greed and power. He modeled a life of deep friendship with the Father and with His friends. Some of those around Jesus did not appreciate His model of love and mercy. They hoped the Messiah, the Chosen one, would rise to power and bring judgment to the world. Though those around Him began to turn on Him, Jesus stayed steadfast on His path. And finally He gave up His life for His friends, the ultimate example of Love.
Those around Jesus must have felt like their commitment to Him had been pointless. Jesus’ words of Hope and Love must have seemed empty and wanting. But a few days later, Jesus defeated death and resurrected, showing Himself to His friends. Jesus showed that His power was not an earthly power of greed or status, but one driven by one thing alone: Love.
Today, we gather as a community to celebrate and remind ourselves of our God who displayed Himself in Jesus. This God has always been and will always be Love. We gather to worship this God, to grow in friendship with Him and with each other. As we receive His love, we are able to extend this Love to the world around us, creating more and more whispers of the way we were intended to live.
Narrative Church is a part of the Assemblies of God, USA.