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We believe that Jesus died and that he rose again. So, because of him, God will raise with Jesus those who have died. 1 Thessalonians 4:14 (NCV)
“It’s not so important what you believe. The important thing is that you believe something.” Ever heard someone say something similar to that? To think that belief is more important than the validity of the object believed in is ludicrous at best and dangerous in most cases.
I could say I believe I can fly. I could believe is with all my heart. But one jump from the roof will prove me dreadfully wrong. I don’t need to go to that extreme. I know from what I’ve heard and learned and seen in life that jumping from the roof will bring me quickly to the ground and may cause injury or even death. My decision NOT to jump off the roof is based on quantifiable fact.
Faith works in me the same way. There are many religions that speak of some sort of life after death. Many systems of belief encourage morality and philanthropy. But the question that has to be asked of each of these belief systems is, “Where’s the proof? What evidence can you provide that insures I will live forever?” When it really comes down to it, that’s what each of us wants. In life we’d like money and health and vibrant, passionate relationships. But what happens after life can haunt us. It’s not knowing what happens after we die that puts the fear of death in the number one place of terror in our hearts.
That’s what sets us apart as Christ-followers. Jesus rose from the dead. There is a plethora of evidence, scientific and historic, that proves that point. Jesus is the only religious leader that not only stated he would rise from the dead, but actually did it. Not only did he say he would rise from the dead, he promised us that some day he would return for us.
If Jesus did what he said he would do by rising from the dead, we can be assured that his other promises will come true as well. Promises to always be with us. Promises to forgive us, show mercy to us and love us. Most of all, the promise that he will return one day and bring us to himself. We will rise again! How do we know? First of all our leader, Jesus Christ, did. Secondly, he told us we would rise from the dead. If it was true of him, it will be true of us. We will live forever. Death will have no victory over us because Jesus defeated death once and for all.
PRAYER: Dear Jesus, Thank you for offering me forgiveness for my sin. Thank you for fulfilling every promise you have ever made to me. Thank you for rising from the dead so that I can be assured I will live forever. In you I put my trust because no one else can do for me what you do. In your name I pray, Amen.
There was a jar full of vinegar there, so the soldiers soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a branch of a hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ mouth. When Jesus tasted the vinegar, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and died. John 19:29-30 (NCV)
It had been over 30 years since he’d been home. Thirty years of walking the dusty paths of Palestine. Three decades of living as the creator in a human body; of setting aside his royalty to live as a ‘common person.’
He’d stood silently as he watched over 5,000 men, women and children celebrate a feast he prepared from a few small fish and some loaves of bread. He’d seen the amazement of his close friends as he calmed the wind he’d created and the seas he’d formed from nothing. He felt the relief and joy of parents whose little girl he breathed breath into…for the second time, and smiled with joy as his close friend Lazarus obeyed his voice and came forth from the tomb.
He’d listened with faux amazement as his disciples shared their new-found power over disease, demons and death…power he instilled in them to the glory of his father. He’d quieted the demons who insisted on telling the world his identity before it was time.
Amazing? Of course. Awesome to be sure. But all these things we would treasure as victories were nothing to Jesus. The real victory wasn’t at the side of the sick child or the bed of the paralytic. It wasn’t in the touch he gave to the woman who was bent over from years of being crippled or the blind man who received his sight.
The real victory came at the cross. Were we to be there we’d see the Roman soldiers doing what they’d done countless times, driving nails into the hands and feet of another pitiful criminal. We’d see crowds of people. Some crying, some confused, some shouting obscenities at this ‘self-proclaimed’ messiah. What would be hidden from our view were the legions of angels in full battle dress. Ready at a moment’s notice to wipe out these proud and boisterous humans so the King could take his place on the throne. We wouldn’t see the enemy wringing his hands in glee, thinking that once and for all he would be victorious.
We wouldn’t see it. But Jesus did. He saw it all and as the pain from trying to breath became unbearable he asked for a drink. Then, with the taste of bitter, sour wine still on his lips be bowed his head and died.
Before he breathed his last breath he announced to the seen and the unseen world, “IT is finished”. He didn’t say I’m finished in reference to the end of his physical life. He didn’t say ‘you’ are finished. He said IT is finished. The divine plan to bring forgiveness to the unworthy, mercy to the hopeless and grace to the helpless. It was finished and the bitterness of sour wine would forever symbolize the victory each of us has in him.
There’s nothing else to do. No religious tradition or dogma to complete. No acts of charity or repayment to accomplish. All we need to rest in his promises of grace, forgiveness and eternal life was completed on the cross for us that day. That’s what Easter is about. It’s about the completion of the divine plan. It’s about the bitter taste of victory.
PRAYER: Father God I thank you for the gift of grace and salvation through Jesus Christ. My Jesus, I worship you today for the pain you suffered on my behalf so that victory could be mine. Empower me to live for you in such a way that others see you in my words and actions. Amen.
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NLT)
Some of the toughest choices father’s make are in regards to their children. We, especially as men, grow up with dreams. We play games in which we always want to come out the winner. As we grow older, reality sets in. Sometimes it sets in hard. We can’t keep rewinding the game clock until the ball swishes through the basket or goes into the empty net or splits the uprights.
It’s no wonder then, that when our son(s) come along the dreams start over again. No offense against the women of our world. They have accomplished great things, fantastic things. Even so, there’s something special about the bond between a man and his son, just as there is between a woman and her daughter. Gender doesn’t really matter. Parents grow up with the hope that their children will somehow attain all they had hoped to attain when they were kids. But sometimes life deals cruel blows.
It’s always been that way really. Abraham had the tough decision to send Ishmael and his mother into the wilderness. Later he had to lay his son of promise, Isaac, on an altar. Only the last minute call of an angel and rustling of a ram in the thicket saved Isaac from being offered up as a sacrifice.
David had the tough choice of going to war against his son, Absalom. Even though he pled for the safe return of his son, the young rebel was killed in battle.
But perhaps the toughest test of love came from God himself. From the day he decided to create this world we live on he longed for relationship. He created beauty from trees and flowers, majesty from mountains and valleys, power from weather and the seas and the wonder of life from innumerable life forms, both seen and unseen.
All that he created gave him great joy. He looked and saw it was good. But it lacked the one thing he longed for above all else. It lacked relationship. So God created mankind to bring him relationship the relationship he’d always wanted. But mankind failed. There was only one thing Father God could do to restore that relationship. It was the hardest thing any of us parents would be called upon to do. He had to give up his only son.
He looked down through the ages and saw the pain his son would suffer. He saw the guilt that would be placed on his shoulders. He saw the physical and emotional abuse that would be executed on his innocent son so that my sins could be forgiven. He watched him die on a tree so I could live forever.
That’s love. That’s tough love. Tough love says I’ll do whatever it takes. Tough love says I’ll give up whatever I need to get the relationship I want to have with you. That’s what God is saying to each of us. He gave all he had so he could have a relationship with you. All he asks in return is for your love through obedience to his word.
PRAYER: Father God, as a parent I can’t imagine what it would be like to have to give up a son so others could live. Especially when the ones who benefit have nothing to give in return. I have nothing to offer you in thanks for your salvation. Thank you for loving me anyway. Thank you for sending Jesus so I can have a relationship with you. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
A Tribute to Denis Bayle
February 8, 1958-April 1, 2011
On April 1, 2011 I lost a very dear friend and the St. Croix Valley lost a living example of the grace, forgiveness and restoration of Jesus Christ. Denis Bayle was transported into the arms of Jesus as the result of a tragic auto accident. Today’s blog post in a tribute to my friend and brother who never judged me, always supported me and reminded me of what Jesus’ love is about.
The following is a transcript of the Eulogy I was honored to share at his Celebration of Life Service. Denis, may you rest in peace and may the legacy you left us continue until the day Jesus comes to take us all home.
- It’s appropriate that we meet here to celebrate the life of Denis Bayle. Denis believed in the ministry of the Association Retreat Center (ARC). He was our St. Croix Falls marketing spot and it was for that reason that I stopped by the shop on Friday to drop off some flyers for our ARC Wild Game Feed. Denis placed all of our ARC posters and flyers strategically for his customers to see. He was known to have made new copies of flyers at the Copy Shop because I was negligent in giving him enough material. He paid for them out of his own pocket or somehow convinced Joyce that it was in her best interest to give them to him. Friday we had a good chat. Funny thing is I left the shop that morning with a strange feeling I still couldn’t put my finger on. Something was different. He wasn’t the Denis I knew in some way. I can’t help wondering if somehow he knew.
- I knew Denis for several years, but got to know him best during my years as Pastor of First Baptist Church. I remember Denis telling me that he and his family were there because they wanted to make a difference in the church and community, and he certainly did that. Like with anything else in his life, he dug into the ministry. Denis made an impact that is felt to this day in that fellowship.
- Denis loved music. He introduced First Baptist Church to the group ‘Third Day’. It’s said that during one construction project at the church Third Day was heard a block away! Made me glad we’d re-leaded the stained glass windows the year before. Not only did he enjoy listening to music, he loved to sing. Some may question whether he had a ‘good singing voice’ but no one could dispute that he had a song in his heart just waiting to burst forth.
- Denis was the kind of guy who always wanted to give kids a chance. He’d to his best to provide them with all sorts of opportunities to prove themselves. Failure on their part was no reason to quit; it was only an opportunity to try again. Sometimes Denis took his desire to believe in kids to the extreme. I remember the time we were decorating for Christmas at the old First Baptist Church building. We were blessed to have Donna in charge of our decorating. Donna was meticulous and creative in her work. She took pride in what she did and rightfully so. Denis got us a Christmas tree for the rotunda area of the church. We aren’t sure where he got it, but the white house tree may have been smaller than ours that year. After Donna had directed us in how to decorate the building it was time for the tree. Denis wanted to be in charge of putting the glass bulbs on the tree with the Sunday School kids, the majority of whom were six years of age and under. As we were working around the building we heard the sound of breaking glass followed by a wince on Donna’s face. “Don’t worry! We still have 23 left” Denis said reassuringly, Crash/tinkle, “make that 22”. A dozen broken bulbs later Denis went to find more bulbs. In his absence Donna quickly put the remaining glass bulbs high on the tree. Denis returned in amazement that Bills Ace Hardware didn’t carry red, plastic Christmas Tree bulbs.
- Denis’ love for kids was evident in his teaching. Why just teach about foot washing? Let’s get a bowl, a towel and take off our shoes! The lesson plans provided were never creative or exciting for Denis. He could always find some way to make the lesson more of an event or adventure. Over the past couple days I’ve heard several people tell me that their child accepted Jesus as a result of Denis’ ministry.
- Denis never grasped the idea of denominations. In his world I don’t think there were any. People came in two types. Those who followed Christ and those who didn’t. If you followed Christ as savior he was an encourager, if you didn’t, he was an evangelist. The sign on the front of his business said Shipping and Handling but that was really a front for the Denis Bayle Evangelistic Association. To Denis, every conversation was an opportunity to share Jesus. If you left ‘Shipping and Handling’ without hearing about Jesus, you simply weren’t paying attention.
- I remember another time when Denis and I stood talking to a local business man who happened to own a bar. He told me that he’d heard some talk about him from ‘church’ people and it hurt him deeply. This man constantly reached out to many who were in need. He told me he’d always admired the beautiful stained glass windows in our church. I invited him inside. As we entered the sanctuary his cell phone went off. The conversation I heard on my end went something like this. “Hello son….You’ll never guess where I am….the Sanctuary of the Baptist Church…no, really…I’m not kidding you son. I’m in the sanctuary of the Baptist Church!” That day began a relationship that continues to this day.
- That’s the way Denis was. He was constantly seeking out the ‘misfits’ around him so he could relate to them and be an example of salvation.
- Denis was always reaching out with grace to those who may have rejected because he knew what it was like to fail. Denis knew what it was like to need forgiveness and be forgiven. He knew what it was like to experience the restoration of a soul, emotions and identity that can only be found in Jesus.
- It didn’t matter how long you knew Denis, he was a friend you could call on when you needed him and he’d be there. In his world there were two groups of people. Those who were his close friends and those close friends he didn’t know yet.
- Denis never forgot where he’d come from and the effects of the poor choices in his life. He never forgot that it was only because of Jesus’ forgiveness that he was even alive. He’d do anything he could to keep people from making the same mistakes. Maybe that’s why some people saw him as annoying. He had such a passion for people and such a desire to help that he’d do anything to keep others from making the same mistakes. That’s why, at times, he was a little overbearing. He knew what could happen if you make wrong choices. Denis may not have always done things right, but he was always motivated by love.
- No doubt everyone in this room owed Denis a favor at one time or another for something he did for you. Were he here today I think his response would be something like “Forget it. The only repayment I want is for you to live for Jesus every day of your lives.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 