Is your Jesus too small?

I heard this question the other day.  I was at Bible Study Fellowship, and it came up during lecture.  I had to think a minute and ponder.  Since that time the question has been on my heart.

Last week we FINALLY got into the resurrection of my sweet Jesus after studying His suffering and death on the cross for about 3 weeks.  This was even after we actually celebrated Easter Sunday... which meant I had been pondering Jesus' sacrificial suffering and death for a month.  It seemed a hard thing to do to concentrate on Jesus' betrayal, suffering, and death for a month... oh, how I was ready to move on... move on to the GLORIOUS RESURRECTION!!!!  

But isn't that just how we operate?  I know that I think about Jesus' suffering and death occasionally.  I have to.  My sins placed Him there.  He paid the price for my sins!  But a month?  Really?  Shameful, isn't it?  I'm so ready to move on to the happy rejoicing of the resurrection that I have trouble focusing on Christ's death and resurrection for a month.

Now, back to the topic... the question at hand came up when Mary Magdalene was at Jesus' tomb... searching for His body, her plan was to continue covering it in spices since Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea didn't finish because of the Sabbath celebration to begin. So Mary was at the tomb... looking to serve her Lord the only way she knew how at the moment.  Unrecognized, Jesus asks her why she is crying.  Through her tears and utter grief she explains that she is looking for her Lord. Supposing Jesus is the gardener, she begs for His body willing to do anything to get it back.

Our lecturer noted that Mary's estimation of Jesus was too small.  She didn't expect the Man standing in front of her to be Jesus, her RISEN LORD!  She totally missed it.  Whether through her tears she didn't see Him or her grief blinded her heart to the truth, Mary missed it.  UNTIL!  Jesus called her by name!  All He had to say. was. her. name!

Praise God that He still calls us by name today!  He is just. that. personal.  

So the question remains... is your Jesus too small for what He desires to accomplish in you?  Is He too small to rescue you from the pit?  Is He too small to save your loved ones?  Is He too small to care for your family?

If He isn't too small to raise the dead, or to heal the lame. If He isn't too small to feed 5,000 men or walk on water.  If He isn't too small to resist temptation, even on the cross or to be RAISED. FROM. THE. DEAD.  He isn't too small!

Washing Feet

Last week in Bible study we (my boys and I) studied Jesus washing the disciples feet.  I explained afterward that anytime we do something for someone else with a good attitude and kind heart that we do it for Jesus.  We show that we love Jesus by loving others.  Well this week we had an opportunity to put feet to our lesson. 

I have a friend in my Sunday School class who had a death in her family.  It was sudden and completely unexpected.  So immediately, when I got the news, I set to making dinner for her and her boys. As I made the dinner I was reminded of the lesson about the footwashing.  I explained to my boys that we had an opportunity to serve Jesus by doing something for someone who needed love. I told both the boys that we were going to wash some feet.  I likened the making of the meal to the washing that Jesus did for his disciples. 

When it was completed I took the meal, and my Chops, and we got in the car and drove to the house.  Hopefully, it left an impression on my two young ones.  I pray that they grow to have a heart for others.  That Jesus may be glorified.

BSF day

I love talking with my boys.  I have stopped turning on the radio in the van while we are in the car together just so I can chat with my usually always running boys.  The most treasured conversations, lately, have been on the way home from Bible Study Fellowship.  Each child learns the same lesson about Jesus that the women do, which is a great way to start discussions in the van on the 20 minute trip home.  On more than one occasion my children have quickened my heart, either in conviction or in elation as I realizing they are getting IT.  You know the IT - the most important thing for any Bible believing momma - that their children would follow in the footsteps of the LORD - that they would love HIM with all of their being.

Today, my question was what did you learn about Jesus?  Josh replied that Jesus was going to prepare a place.  I asked if the place was for everyone.  He EMPHATICALLY said, "NO."  I continued to inquire -"Well, who gets to go?" Josh very groundedly stated "Only people who trust Jesus as their Savior."  SPOT ON!  He said this with such conviction that it brought tears to my eyes. I then told him that during his lifetime that many people would try to tell him that there were many ways to heaven.  People want to believe that they can believe in Buddha or Muhammed or just be good.  If they are faced with Jesus they are face to face with their sin.

I praise God that my boys are learning that Jesus loves them.  They are learning that they are sinful human beings. Even though they know that they do wrong they know that Jesus loved them enough to die  for them on the cross.  IT is the most important thing for this momma.