Don't follow Jesus if you're not prepared to have your life torn apart. Your temple will be destroyed.
It will be rebuilt again, rest assured, but know that it won't be on your terms. When you follow Jesus you die to yourself and give your life to him.
Do these words sound familiar? Have you recited words just like it over and over again? Chances are you have, but please, do not take these words lightly.
It's easy to, of course. We recite dramatic things like this all the time in church, and we read them frequently enough that we become complacent.
Which is exactly what Satan wants, of course. So do not take these words lightly.
When Jesus came to see his disciples after his resurrection, he showed them him wounds. Jesus choses to interact with us through his wounds. On Good Friday we remember that we stand and we watch and we look away and we tremble as Jesus is crucified, and Jesus begs for his cup to be taken from him.
But in this resurrection life, our new creation, Jesus uses his healed wounds -- reminders of betrayal, mistrust, and deceit -- wounds that have been made new, to bring us into his kingdom.
As we are reminded at passover, our life with God is marked by raw emotion, cutting bitterness, and salty tears. If you think being a Christian means inspiring quotes, donating some money, and chatting over coffee -- I urge you to look again.
Because when you are genuinely following Jesus, it shows in your wounds.
