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Moving Through Stages
Brian Mashburn
April 11, 2010
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Moving Through Stages
I hope you enjoyed the 4-week break from our study of 1 John to look at “History’s Mightiest Week.” I don’t know about you, but slowing down and taking a closer look at Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Resurrection Sunday was very good for my heart.
I guess any in depth look at any part of the life of Jesus would be, but the critical parts of the message that we carry is powerfully contained in the story of that week.
For someone who needs to know what Jesus expects from his followers, Maundy Thursday captures it.
For someone who feels sin and shame, Good Friday conquers it.
For someone who thinks Christianity can’t handle their doubts and fears, Holy Saturday confronts it.
And for someone who is really needing “a win” in their life, Resurrection Sunday satisfies it.
I know John would’ve approved of us taking a break from his letter to focus on Jesus. That is what his little book is attempting to get people to do… no matter where they are in their journey.
Today we take note of John’s acknowledgement that we are, indeed, on a journey. He poetically addresses 3 different groups in different “stages” of their lives.
It is so vital to acknowledge that there are “stages” of development in this thing called Christianity. Without this understanding, we would operate out of a black and white, you are in or you are out sort of spirit. We’ve all seen it before (and many of us have carried it), it is a harsh, judgmental, urgent sort of spirit that runs human beings off.
Grace abounds in this idea that we are “still in process”. It’s nice to know that we are “okay” right where we are at. But challenge abounds, too. If Christianity is a process, then the proof that we are in it is that we are changing. Progressing.
Let’s see if we can discern from John some clues as to how.