Wednesday 28 April 2010

Coulds, Woulds, and Wills

Richard made a nice pickup in Bible study tonight. We were looking at the cross as it reveals what’s going on in the Trinity, working our way through Matthew 26.

In the Garden, of course, Jesus prays ‘Not my will but yours’. He submits his own desire to please the Father he loves. This, we kind of expect. He’s a good Son.

But the fact that he prays it is suggestive. Could he have been more insistent and got out of the crucifixion? Would the Father have honoured such a request?

The answer comes soon afterwards. v. 53:

Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

The Son could, it seems. And the Father would. The Father would submit his own desire to please the Son he loves.

It’s a marvellous moment – when we realise that the Son is prepared to serve the Father, just as the Father is prepared to serve the Son. Not for our sake (though this is also true!), but for the sake of the other.

Either of them could pull the pin. The other would submit to it. And the world, the whole of creation, would miss its moment and be lost.

But neither did, because neither willed it. The love within the Godhead spills over into a love for that which lies outside the Godhead.

Yes, I Think I Know Why…

…this book was marked down.

Capture

In the world of publishing, it’s just so important to get the right title, isn’t it?

To be followed by So That’s Why They Call Him the Lord of Hosts: Sacraments and All That Stuff. After the markdown, it won’t cost a whole lot of dough.

Monday 12 April 2010

When the Absurd Obscures the Embarrassing

In the wake of the kerfuffle over John Piper’s invitation to Rick Warren to speak at this year’s Desiring God conference, I’ve noticed that there has been some criticism of Warren’s Easter services featuring the Jonas Brothers to bring in the crowds. If you’re in doubt, here's the press release.

 

I’m sure it worked. But frankly, it seems bizarre. Only in America, as they say. And hopefully not often.

 

But here’s the thing that gets me: Tim Challies and the Pyromaniacs both mention the Easter thing…and neither of them act surprised that Saddleback’s Easter festivities seem to overlook something…just a small thing…Good Friday! No wonder Warren had no trouble preaching on Elijah for his Easter sermon – if you’re going to ignore the cross, the resurrection might as well go too…