A FRESH START AT EASTER

Transcription

1 A FRESH START AT EASTER Happy Easter from Chaplain Ross Wakeley

2 2 Based on Victor Hugo s novel, "Les Misérables" is the story of a released prisoner Jean Valjean. It s 19th century France, and he s been in prison for 19 years after he stole a loaf of bread for his starving family. Jean Valjean is free on parole, but starving. A caring bishop invites him into his home. You are welcome. Everything here is yours. Valjean s life has taught him to survive, so he steals the bishop s silver. The French gendarmes catch Valjean and bring him to the kind bishop, and accuse him of robbery. Prison looks near! The Bishop shocks everyone, Valjean most of all, by telling the gendarmes he had given the silver to Valjean. Then he also gives him the silver candlesticks. Remember this my brother: see in this some higher plan. You must use this precious silver to become an honest man. I have raised you out of darkness, I have bought your soul for God.

3 His life is changed forever through the generosity and grace shown to him by the bishop who shows him the reality of Jesus love, grace to have a fresh start in life. 3 Years later, as a respectable mayor, he is chased by Javert, a ruthless police inspector whose identity is consumed with justice and he believes the only way we get right with God is through following the Law. However, we all know that the law leads to frustration and death, but God s amazing grace leads to a fresh start, plus a life of selflessness and hope as Jean Valjean discovers. I AM THE LAW Hunted by Javert, we see Valjean give up his comfortable life to see justice done when another man is falsely accused of being him. He rescues a woman from death on the streets and takes her daughter Cosette into his protection. He risks his life to save young Marius, who s fallen in love with Cosette. This story reaches a climax when Jean Valjean has the opportunity to kill Javert the man who s been his lifelong persecutor. Valjean does what Javert would never expect. He gives him freedom and a fresh start. He shows love and grace to his tormentor. I SET YOU FREE

4 4 In a closing scene of the movie, Jean Valjean is dying, and he writes a letter to Cosette On this page I write my last confession. It s the story of one who turned from hating. A man who only learned to love when you were in his keeping. He dies praying to God: Take my hand, and lead me to salvation. Take my love, for love is everlasting. And remember, the truth that once was spoken: to love another person is to see the face of God. Jean Valjean s life shows how God enables us to have a fresh start. Les Miserables is a classic story with beautiful themes about mercy, forgiveness and redemption. But there s more... Hugh Jackman played the role of Jean Valjean. His inspiration for the film (and his life), is his dad. Without him, I wouldn t be where I am today. Without him, I wouldn t have had an inspiration for my role in Les Misérables. Dad underwent the same kind of lifechanging experience that my character undergoes in the film. Valjean steals artefacts from a bishop, is caught by the police, but in an act of supreme kindness, is allowed by the bishop to keep the artefacts and sell them. The incident transforms his life, he becomes a respected town mayor. Dad converted to become a Christian by evangelist Dr Billy Graham, when he was 30 years old, and underwent a life-changing epiphany, too. I thought about that constantly when I was playing Valjean, I tried to inject as much of Dad s goodness and change of life into the character I was playing.

5 Isn t the story of Les Misérables so powerful. I was in tears during the final song by Jean Valjean. God delights to give every person a fresh start, which brings me to the Easter story. 5 Easter confronts us with reality. Jesus Christ died willingly on a Cross, to give every person a fresh start. This was a truth that Jesus spoke of months before it occurred in Jerusalem. Jesus says, Even the Son of Man (his title for himself) did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45 On the Cross, Jesus God in human form was choosing to die for us. What did Jesus death achieve? About thirty years later, Paul a man who experienced his own unique fresh start from Jesus summed up an answer in this passage: When God our Saviour revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. ( Titus 3:4-7) Living Bible

6 6 Jerusalem in AD35 was a turbulent place to live. Over 500 people had seen Jesus Christ alive after He was crucified. The religious leaders were actively persecuting anyone who was a disciple of Jesus they killed them. A passionate campaigner to eradicate the Christ-followers was Saul one of the smartest of the religious leaders. Saul was off to Damascus, determined to put to death Christians in that city. He was violently opposed to anyone following Jesus. Jesus appeared supernaturally to Saul on the road to Damascus, and Saul was immediately blinded as Jesus called him by name. Jesus knew all about Saul s life. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say, Saul, why do you persecute me? Who are you, Lord? Saul asked. I am Jesus, who you are persecuting, he replied. Now get up and go into the city. I ve handpicked you...i m sending you off to open the eyes of people so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God. I m sending you off to present my offer of sins forgiven, and a place in the family, inviting them into the company of those who begin real living by believing in me. Acts 9:4-6, 26:15-18 (Message) I couldn t just walk away from a vision like that! I became an obedient believer on the spot. I started preaching this life-change this radical turn to God and everything it meant in everyday life in Damascus, went on to Jerusalem and from there to the whole world. Acts 26:19,20 (Message)

7 7 Saul was radically impacted by supernaturally meeting Jesus. He changed his name to Paul and God empowered him to passionately share the good news about Jesus Christ in all of his talking; genuine acts of kindness and the supernatural healing of people. Paul experienced Jesus love. However, it was the early disciples of Jesus Peter, Mary Magdalene, John, Mary, Andrew and thousands of other people who first hand experienced Jesus giving them a personal fresh start. In every interaction with Jesus, he lived unconditional love. To each person who is overwhelmed by pain, failure, suffering or feels defeated, Jesus comes to us with the relentless tenderness of his grace. Let Jesus speak to you. Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. When you re joined with me and I with you, the relationship intimate, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can t produce a thing. If you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. I ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you ll remain intimately at home in my love. I ve named you friends because I ve let you in on everything I ve heard from the Father. John 15:4-15 (The Message)

8 8 JESUS IS A GOOD FRIEND We ve all been a bad friend at some point. Maybe we ve taken advantage of friends or been short with them or simply not been there when needed. And we ve probably experienced that as well. But Jesus is a good friend. In fact, he s a perfect friend. And even when we re horrible friends to him, he s always a good friend to us. Jesus is such a good friend and we re often bad friends to him. He knew the only way to save our friendship was to die for our sins and he did so willingly. Because of Jesus death on the cross, we have the opportunity to become friends with Jesus. And as w As we do so, we learn some amazing things about him.im. As a good friend, Jesus loves us better than we could ever love him, love others or even love ourselves. As a good friend, Jesus guides us, empowering us to live and be loved by him in a way that brings glory to God and life changing fulfillment to us. As a good friend, Jesus forgives us our sin though we don t deserve it sacrificing his life so that we can live. As a good friend, Jesus is fun, having enjoyed parties and time with his friends. As a good friend, Jesus listens. He prays for us when he hears our prayers. He deeply cares about what is happening in our lives.

9 God gives ME a fresh start , I had a fantastic work role that involved me equipping Christians in Philippines, NZ, Indonesia and around Australia. Over the years, thousands of people came. 9 I was also responsible for running big conferences with international speakers in Australia s capital cities. My role was a real privilege. But there was another side to it all. I also faced manipulation, emotional abuse and harassment from my boss. During the years of abuse, God enabled me to forgive, find security in Jesus love and keep going. The boss didn t change his behaviour, so I left my job for 3 months unemployed. It wasn t an easy time of life. And then, God opened the door for my fresh start as a Chaplain with BCS. Initially it was half time as Chaplain in Kariong: a maximum security prison. That was God s classroom for me! It wasn t long before I was full-time and now my work is all community chaplaincy (which I love). Incredibly, God went further. In November 2009, following an out-of-the-blue invitation, Jan and I had ten days equipping people in Cambodia. In June we ll return for our 3rd trip (we pay to help) and our role is running parenting seminars; work with pastors/leaders, etc. Plus, I m part of the BCS chaplaincy family (here we are late in 2012).

10 10 Jesus highlighted a key truth in the stories you read in this booklet and the life stories YOU have experienced. What occurs for us all in our everyday life is due to two different realms that interact on the decisions we make. What are these realms? 1. The visible natural realm 2. The invisible spiritual realm In this photo of Lake Parramatta, we can see the real trees and water. There s a reflection but we can t touch it as it shows what is just out of our reach. 1. The visible natural realm: the world we see and people we relate with. Often, we re carrying baggage from stuff earlier in our life. Stuff like shame, negative self talk, our failures, etc. 2. The invisible spiritual realm: unseen by our eyes are angels, demons and an evil power the Bible names as Satan. His agenda is only to rob away real life. To lie, speak condemnation into our spirit and deceive us. To feed temptation into our mind. We ve all been down that road and know we get ripped off by Satan. Jesus said: Satan was a killer from the very start. He couldn t stand the truth because there wasn t a shred of truth in him. When the Liar speaks, he makes it up out of his lying nature and fills the world with lies. John 8:43-45 (The Message) How does that relate to me? There is a war going on in our head in which Satan speaks tempting lies that will rob us from a fresh start and being secure in God s love. You and I have a choice: Listen to deception or believe in the truth that Jesus says to us. He gives us real life.

11 Jesus had this inner battle with Satan throughout his 33 years on earth but he never believed or acted on the lies. How? Jesus is far more powerful than the majority of people of his time realised. 11 Jesus Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation. Through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can t see such such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Colossians 1: (Living Bible) Jesus death and resurrection shows us both God s absolute power to transform what looks like a hopeless situation and his total domination over Satan. As they took Jesus body off the Cross, his mother Mary and John (one of his disciples) could have thought: It s all over. They buried him: with no hope in their heart. Sunday was coming!

12 12 POWERFUL FRIEND Jesus is a powerful friend. The Bible speaks of Jesus as a King. As a powerful friend, Jesus is the King of all creation and he s establishing his kingdom: here on earth as it is in heaven. This means that nothing is out of the influence of Jesus and everything is subject to him. As a powerful friend, Jesus has conquered Satan, sin, and death. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose from death in victory. He is alive and well! And Jesus is coming back to forever destroy evil. For those with faith in Jesus, there is no need to fear as Satan has no power over us, sin is no longer in control of us and our sins are forgiven. Death is not the end, but the beginning of real life with Jesus. As a powerful friend, Jesus leads his church through the Holy Spirit. He invites people into friendship. He takes us out of sin and shame into freedom and forgiveness. He creates community in which people serve others and the world. As a powerful friend, Jesus is generous. He gives forgiveness and grace freely to all who ask, having given his own life to provide it. He also gives us his Holy Spirit, who empowers us as Christians to live in Jesus victory and strength. Acknowledgement: Friend content Mars Hill church, USA

13 At dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 13 The angel said to the women, Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. Matthew 28:1-7 The resurrected Jesus overcame death and Satan. He is triumphant! Jesus has total power and love to help us have fresh starts in our life. If we are carrying baggage, we can bring it all to God and admit, I can t fix this God. Forgive me. Release me. Give me a fresh start. He will. I ask God to strengthen you by his Spirit a glorious inner strength that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. God can do anything, you know far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Ephesians 3:15-20 (The Message)

14 14 Kim Phuc was nine years old on June 8, 1972, when her village, in South Vietnam was bombed. Burned by napalm, she ran down the road screaming in fear and pain. The media captured this moment of war's horror; Kim s picture was published around the world. Pilot John Plummer dropped the napalm on Kim s village. John says, The village was supposed to be empty, and the bombs were supposed to hit the bunkers just outside of town. It wasn t until the day after the strike that I saw Kim s picture and realized what had actually happened. John saw the photo and was haunted by images of the naked burning child, terrified and running, her flesh afire with 3rd degree burns. He d done that! He spent 24 years looking for Kim Phuc to say I m sorry. Incredibly, GOD was at work in both of them.

15 John Plummer returned home a broken man he ignored God, took up drink, got divorced and left his four children. Several years later he met Joanne who led him to Christ and a fresh start. In 1990 he became a pastor still waiting to say sorry. 15 Unable to attend school, Kim found a library and discovered a Bible. I couldn t stop reading it. In a local church, The love of God changed my life. I knew that Jesus died on the cross and paid for my sins. As God spilled His love into me, he removed all my hatred, anger, bitterness, sorrow. In June 1996, John saw a TV news story about Kim. He learned she was to speak on the Vietnam War in Washington. John went. Kim told an audience of veterans, if she were face to face with the pilot who dropped the bomb, she would tell him. "I have lived with my pain; I know the value of love when you want to heal. I have lived with hatred, and now I know the power of forgiveness. Today, I am alive, I live without hatred, without the spirit of revenge, and I can tell all those who caused my suffering: I forgive you." John pushed his way through the crowd. I am the one! he shouted. I am the man who did this to you! Kim was the only one who could free him and he fell into her arms, sobbing. For every time he cried out, I am so sorry, her voice rose to cover his. It is OK, I ve forgiven you.

16 16 JESUS SAID, LOOK! I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK. IF YOU HEAR MY VOICE AND OPEN THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN, AND WE WILL SHARE A MEAL TOGETHER AS FRIENDS. REVELATION 3:20 My friend Gabriel (from the Middle East) tells me this verse is about Jesus offering us genuine friendship that is life-changing. Jesus also will release us from the baggage we re carrying or really help us with the issues that are overwhelming our life. God is so much more than organised religion. He invites us into a relationship in His family. It s our choice to says yes. Scripture quotations from The Holy Bible, New International Version Copyright 1984 by International Bible Society Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group Acknowledgements: Photo s internet, Passion movie, author. Colour version free at