Count Nicholas Von Zinzendorf was a German religious and social reformer, and was the bishop of the Moravian church. But this was not always the case. When he was young, he rebelled against the faith of his parents; the faith in which he’d been raised. He rejected the love and grace of God and lived a life not consistent with the faith of his parents.
One day a family friend took him to an art gallery where a famous religious painting depicting the crucifixion of Christ was on display. There was something about the painting that gripped him. He stood and studied it for a long time…as though he was in a trance. Then his eyes spotted the writing on the bottom of the painting which read “All this I did for thee. What hast thou done for me?” In that moment, he saw that truth about God, about himself, and about the power of the cross.
This experience reawakened in Vin Zinzendorf a desire to recommit his life to Jesus Christ and the ministry of the church.
“For God so love the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him will never die, but will have eternal life.” – John 3:16.
We’ve spent the past six weeks thinking together about what Jesus did. About how he stepped out onto the water and walked…about how he encouraged Peter to do the same…about how he reached out his hand and rescued Peter when Peter faltered…about how he climbed into the boat then to be with the disciples as the continued their journey.
That image, of Jesus on the water, reaching out his hand will now forever be burned into my mind. It will be one of the images I think of, when I think of Jesus.
When you think of Jesus, when you visualize him, what do you see? And more importantly, how might it deepen your faith? Sometimes when we consider the Savior, it is easy for us to forget what he actually did…who he did it for…and why he did it…
“All this I did for thee. What hast thou done for me?”
Sometimes it takes just an image to trigger within us movement emotionally or spiritually. Sometimes it takes just a reminder of someone’s motivation to trigger within us a transformation.
My prayer is that this Holy Week, you are moved. It may be a visual image at the children’s service, or perhaps music at any one of our worship services. It could be the Word preached, or perhaps reaching out your hand and coming in to contact with the Holy, when you receive the sacrament of communion.
All of these elements, and more, remind us that the crucifixion and the resurrection are God’s work. They are actions that God is taking; and that it was done for thee…
Be moved. Be transformed.
Peace,
Pastor Todd
Test Driving Theology 