FROM
THE RECTOR'S DESK May
1999
In the adventure/love story, the plot is always the same: The hero loves the girl; she is lost to some
terrible, dangerous, fatal enemy; the hero saves the girl, and wins her love.
The Gospel is the adventure/love story which all
other adventure/love stories point to, emulate, and reflect. The Gospel is not like other adventure/love
stories -- adventure/love stories are like the Gospel.
Like all adventure/love stories (which all find
their beginning in the Gospel), the Gospel has two main characters. The role of the hero is filled by Jesus,
while we fill the role of the rescued lover.
Like all adventure/love stories the Gospel has a plot: (1) Jesus loves humanity. (2) We were lost to terrible, dangerous,
fatal enemies: sin, death, unbelief and hardness of heart. (3) Jesus rescues us from the enemies, and
wins our love.
In the Gospel story, first the hero meets and
conquers his own temptations. Then the
hero meets and conquers the outer enemies:
nature, sickness, human sin, the foolishness of false religion, the
demonic realm, and finally even death itself.
The story tells of his invincible love for us. It tells of his incredible sufferings -- how we ignored him,
betrayed him, denied him, mocked him, rejected him, and eventually, we killed
him.
Yet incredibly, throughout this story, the hero
overcomes every enemy. Even his own
death. Even our rejection. He is Christus
Victor! Victorious Messiah!
Now we come to the final scene. Every enemy has been met and defeated. Now is the time the two main characters to
be gloriously reunited. To ride off
together. To live happily ever
after. The hero and the lover, joyously
together... forever together. Until the
hero and the lover are joyously together, forever together, the story isn't
over
Who is Jesus for you? A baby in a barn? A
teacher on a hill? A worker of
miracles? A founder of religion? A moral example? A martyr on a cross? One
who rose from the dead? The incarnate Son
of God? None of these are
enough! Miracles, crucifixion and
resurrection are not enough! The story
demands a glorious union. So it tells
of the Ascension, of Pentecost and of the coming Great and Glorious Wedding
Feast.
In the Ascension, humanity is brought to sit on the
throne with the Father. In Pentecost
the Spirit of Christ anoints and indwells us.
In the Return the hero and the bride will celebrate their Wedding feast
with wine, and dancing, and singing, and angels. and flowing white robes, and
guests to numerous to count.
Until the hero and the lover are joyously together,
forever together, the story isn't over.
Christ has died. Yes....
Christ has risen. Yes....
But -- Christ will come again!
The Lord be with you!
Rick +