Christ...and calendar?

I’m at the point of the year where most college ministers brace themselves…we’re about to hit a vastly intense season of doing everything we can to connect with students in the first 3 weeks of school.   

Shouldn’t we do that all year long?

Yes, and we do. 

But every collegiate leader knows or will soon learn that the first few weeks of school provide a window that no other season does.  Students (new students especially) are trying to figure out what they are going to do with their “free” time…who they are going to hang out with when they aren’t in class…and in many cases – who they are going to be.  

Here’s the scene from a couple of days ago:  I’ve got my calendar with me…actually about 3 calendars.  There is the most recent printed one…my electronic one… and then the one in my head where I’m trying to figure out how/where I fit in those crucial times with those Jesus would have me spend intentional time with…in addition to my “vocational ministry.”  I’m about to try to synchronize all three…a process, which will be helpful, but will be out of date again in 5 minutes. 

So that’s the back drop…but I’ve got my bible open and I’m wanting/needing to hear some words of life from God.  I just got through reading about how Jesus predicted his death… 

“The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”                   

                                                                             Luke 9:21-22

Well, look what happened to be on Jesus’ calendar:  Suffer, be rejected by religious people, be killed, and on the third day be raised from the dead.

Check.  Got it.  No big deal.

What?

Wait, what?

At some point, someone could have said to Jesus, “What are you going to do this week?”

“I’m going to die.” 

Say what?

The absolute crazy part about all that, was that wasn’t crazy.  Radical, yes. Enormous, yes. But it wasn’t a whim, it wasn’t a mark of insanity, it was planned before time began.  It was on the calendar before there were calendars. 

For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father."  

                                                                             John 10:17-19

No one takes my life from me, I lay it down.  

Purpose.

You know, I think this may be one of those blog posts where I don’t put a little bow on it and call it done. 

I think I may even be able to click “post” without trying to spell out why this was such a big deal and what it tells us about the nature of God. 

But would you….and will I – just sit and think about all the love, purpose, and glory that went into the cross?

Thank you, Jesus.  Will you help us not to forget the essential nature of the cross and resurrection?  May we never get over it.