Death by Love and Life by Death

  • Reid Monaghan
  • Dec 6, 2007
  • Series: Signposts: A Journey in The Gospel of Mark

Note: Part of the title of this message "Death by Love" is a working title of a forthcoming book by Gerry Breshears and Mark Driscoll from Crossway Books.  We have not read this work, but look forward to its release as it will center on the cross of Christ.

Everything is Personal

All things in the universe are created by and related to the God which made them. This makes all things in the universe personal to God. God is personal, he takes everything personally. He can do no other. He takes creation, birds, mountains, trees, oceans, fields and certainly, you and me very personally. He takes sin, injustice, evil, arrogance, human self exaltation, idolatry and self righteousness personally.

Jesus Life, Death and Resurection is personal

Jesus lived on the earth and underwent various experiences as a person. He was loved, betrayed, suffered, abandoned, mocked, lied about and murdered. He experienced all of this as a fully human person and he experienced all of this as the fully divine incarnate Son of God.

Why!? Why did Jesus do This?

Far too often we do not ask the question "Why?" Why did Jesus go through all of that. The answer is profound in that it reveals the heart of the personal God. God himself is personally sinned against by human beings and he will treat us with dignity as moral creatures responsible for our actions. As such God himself, at great cost to his own Son, suffered for us and absorbed the penalty for sin. Why? That he might lavish mercy upon us and freely restore us to relationship with himself. He does the work and receives all glory.