We continue this week in our Lenten worship series, Hope in Dying, by turning from reflection on our own experiences of grief to John 3.14-21 and considering the significance of Jesus’ death.
Fred Craddock, in Speaking of Dying: Recovering the Church’s Voice in the Face of Death, writes, If we as the church are to carry out our ministry to the dying and if we ourselves are to die well, we need solid support and rich resources because this ministry will test us. Such resources can only come from God’s love for us” (Kindle Locations 930-932). Our worship series will be rooted in the hope we find through God’s love for us as we reflect each week on a different theme related to grief, dying, and death.
HOPE IN DYING OUTLINE
February 18 7:00 am Ash Wednesday Worship
February 22 (Mark 1.9-15) Facing Death & Resurrection in Christian Tradition
March 1 (Mark 8.31-38) How Did Jesus Face Death?
March 8 (John 11.28-36) Grief & Becoming Wounded Healers
March 15 (John 3.14-21) Atonement: What Does Jesus’ Death Mean?
March 22 (John 12.20-33) Writing Our Own Deaths
March 29 (Mark 14.1-15) Dignity in Dying
April 2 6:00 pm Maundy Thursday Meal & Holy Conferencing
April 3 7:00 pm Good Friday Worship
April 5 (Mark 16.1-8) Hope & New Life in Christ
What is your perspective on the meaning of Jesus’ death?
Read John 3.14-21.
David Lose writes: “How does God deal with sin? Does God demand punishment (whether of us or Jesus) for sin, or does God forgive sin? These aren’t the same — in fact, to say that God is able to forgive us because God punished Jesus in our place is not forgiveness at all; it’s just someone else making payment. Interestingly, the Apostle Paul says that God proves God’s justice/righteousness precisely by declaring us righteous — that is, forgiving us — by grace (Rom. 3:21-26). So where will you come down? Does your emphasis fall on God’s love or on God’s justice?”
Take time to consider this as you journal or take a quiet walk this week.