He hugged his brother’s killer. He offered her forgiveness. He said that he loved her. How could Brandt Jean do that? How could he offer a second chance to the woman that killed his brother, Botham Jean? How did he choose love over hate?
That’s the gospel.
A man had a child. He loved that child and gave that child everything he could. One day that child left home and went off and did wrong. The child was broken down and spent, so he decided to come home to his father’s house, and he wondered if his father would have him. He was surprised when the father didn’t just let him come back…he welcomed him with open arms and restored him to his place as a son. That’s the gospel. (See Luke 15)
A woman lost a $20 bill, and she didn’t give up until she found it. It was lost, and she made sure she found it. That’s the gospel.
And there was a shepherd who had 100 sheep. One went lost. He left his flock and went and found that sheep. That’s the gospel.
And there was a Father who created the world. He created man to be like himself…but mankind forsook that call. We turned away from the possibility of being like God and gave in to a lesser and evil way. That brought pain and sickness and a curse. It brought death. But, God had a plan to fix it all. He had a way to bring his creation back home to himself. He went after mankind. He worked with his convenant people, Israel, and taught them his ways. Even when they forsook him, he was faithful and gracious. And, they forsook him again and again. So, they went into exile, strangers in a strange land. Then, after years they came back to their promised Land, but things weren’t the same. You see, the chosen people of God now lived as a conquiered people. Their holy Land was now a part of the Roman empire, and they were its lowly subjects. So, they awaited their coming King. Some came and claimed to be the King , but they were squashed and killed. Their little revolts came to nothing. Then, one came along that was different. He could health the sick, feed the masses, and even raise dead Lazarus. He taught about God’s reign. He lived and taught like no other. He had the Spirit of God. And, if you listened, you’d hear him say that he was one with the Father.
God had come again to his people! He had come to restore what was broken and preach the good favor of the Lord God!
And then, it happened…
He was arrested.
Flogged.
Put to an open shame.
He bled and suffered.
Crucified.
Laid in the tomb….
And then something else happened…
God raised him.
He was seen by many people. He ate and drank and talked. And, then he ascended to the sky.
A few days later his chosen spokesmen started telling what all this meant.
It turns out that the chosen King had come to redeem his people….ALL his people…not just the nation of Israel.
He had come to find what was lost.
He had come to heal what was broken.
He was come to restore what was messed up.
He had come for his creation.
He had come for you and for me.
He had come that we might have life and live it abundantly.
He came so we could be his people, his group, his squad, his crew, his nation, his partners, his co-workers in the building of his kingdom, and that one day our bodies will be brought back to life. The bodies that were decayed by sin will one day be resurrected to live forever.
He came so that we who are lost might be found.
That’s the gospel.
And, just as Brandt Jean could tell Amber Guyger that the best thing for her would be to become a Christian, that’s my message to you. The very best thing you could do with your life, no matter where you are in it, is to follow Jesus. He offers resurrection. He offers new life. He offers the very best.
That’s the gospel.
