How to Combine Desperation, The Exodus, and Jesus’ Resurrection
I love celebrating Easter. I enjoy being part of the choir, possibly treating myself to a new dress, as well as enjoying the sunrise service at our church (which thankfully isn’t actually as early as the sun rises). However, I don’t anticipate the observance of Ash Wednesday, Lent, or Good Friday.
I am beyond grateful for Jesus’ sacrifice; I know I am a sinner in need of grace. Nonetheless, I personally want to gloss over the pain and suffering and go straight to resurrection and rejoicing. In addition, I know to fully celebrate Easter, we must confess our desperation.
Dealing with Our Desperation
To prove our desperation, we must do three things. 1. Embrace the truth that we are needy. 2. Admit we can’t receive abundant life without the death of Jesus. 3. Release control and allow God to have all authority.
During the Easter season, many of us acknowledge our desperation for God, because we know the cross is critical and necessary. But I honestly wonder if we lean into experiencing the desolation and anxiety of our hopelessness. I wonder if we fully discover the freedom God longs to give us.
A Lesson from Exodus
God recently provided a new “A-ha!” for me while reading in Exodus. The Israelites were in exile in Egypt. Since Joseph had long been forgotten by the Egyptians, the new Pharaoh chose to use the Israelites as His personal construction company. God called Moses to return to Egypt from the wilderness and be His chosen servant to set the Hebrews free.
As I studied the exodus and the plagues, I became aware of the number of times Moses told Pharaoh why he should let the Israelites go. Over and over God told Moses to tell Pharaoh “Let my people go, so they can worship me.”
I have heard the story of God freeing the Israelites my entire life. When I hear the phrase “Let my people go” I imagine a mighty God demanding a puny Pharaoh to comply. In addition, I have always associated the freeing of the Israelites as the first step toward acquiring the Promised Land. I missed the idea that God freed the Hebrew nation so they could worship Him.
Worship and Serve
In my Bible, I have a notation associated with the word worship used in the Exodus passages. The word translated worship can also be translated serve. I learned the Hebrew word is “abad,” and it’s first definition is “to work, serve.” According to Strong’s definition, the word means “to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, enslave, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service… worshipper.”
God demanded Pharaoh release the Israelites from his service and allow them to be God’s servants. He didn’t want to free them for the sake of freedom and celebration; God chose to provide freedom so they could serve Him and enjoy a life only found with Him. God desired for His people to dedicate their entire allegiance to Him.
The Exiled Israelites and Us
I see a unique parallel between the exodus of the exiled Israelites and God rescuing us from the slavery of sin. God didn’t resurrect Jesus just so we could celebrate. He didn’t free us so we could revel in all His fulfilled promises. Jesus didn’t suffer and die just so we could live a life filled with blessing.
God freed us from the slavery of sin so we could serve Him. God calls us to dedicate our lives to serving and worshiping Him alone. Just like the Israelites, we must be desperate to separate ourselves from everyone else, going into the wilderness, if necessary, to honor and glorify the One and Only Sovereign God.
Resurrection Lessons
After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples. Jesus had redeemed them and set them free, now He wanted them to live lives of worship and service to Him. The few encounters with Jesus told in the gospels after the resurrection emphasize three things Jesus wanted His followers to do.
Be On Mission
First, Jesus wanted His followers to continue the mission He had begun. Christ told them to make disciples and teach new followers to observe everything He had commanded (Matthew 28:18-20). Furthermore, in Jesus’ conversation with Peter, where He inquires of Peter’s love for Him, Jesus repeats “feed my sheep.” Jesus didn’t want Peter to forego the privilege of being part of His mission (John 21:15-19).
Be Teachable, Grow
Second, Jesus reminded His disciples to be teachable and continue to grow. On Resurrection morning the angels at the tomb reminded those who came looking for Jesus to remember what Christ had told them (Luke 24:5-8). When Jesus appeared to the men on the Emmaus Road, He revealed truth and opened their eyes (Luke 24:13-35). Jesus appeared to Mary outside the tomb, blessing her because she chose to seek Him (John 20:11-18).
Help the Faith of Others
Finally, Jesus encouraged them to help each other believe. The disciples fostered and fanned their faith into flame each time one shared a story of Christ’s appearance. Peter and John went to the tomb because of the women who went first. Plus, the men on the Emmaus Road returned to Jerusalem and revealed all Jesus had taught them to the distraught disciples.
Worship, Serve and Sacrifice
The Israelites were desperate to go into the wilderness and offer sacrifices to honor Yahweh, their God, the One true God. Paul reminds us in the letter to the Romans, we also are to offer a sacrifice.
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, this is your true worship.”
Romans 12:1, CSB
Jesus conquered sin and death which is the mercy of God. Each of us, to reveal desperate gratitude, must present ourselves to God, willing to follow the instructions Jesus gave His disciples after His resurrection. We are to live on His mission; we must continue to learn about who God is and how He wants us to represent Him; and we must exchange God stories with other believers, so we are all strengthened in our faith.
Some of you may feel this Easter as if you are in the wilderness. Life is difficult. Others of you feel as if you have survived the wilderness and you are enjoying a respite in God’s tangible goodness. God’s call to all of us is the same. If we want to live in God’s resurrection freedom, we must acknowledge our desperation and offer ourselves as a sacrifice to God in worship and service to Him alone.
Hallelujah! Christ has freed us from our desperation!
