ICF Delft ICF Delft

We know that Easter is about the resurrection of Jesus. But read the accounts about the resurrection and you will see that it is also about the resurrection of Jesus’ disciples. The resurrection account forms the end of the Gospel-record. But the account is not just a happy end to the story. The account forms the start of something new. Something that is still going on. People who rise up through the risen one.

Inclusion is one of the main cultural themes today. How terrible is exclusion! Almost at the start of the Bible we read a story about exclusion. Because of their sin, Adam and Eve were excluded from that wonderful garden, called paradise. Not only Adam and Eve experienced exclusion from God and in the end also from life, but the whole of humanity.

Even God’s own people, while they were in Egypt were outside God’s promised land. How could they, how could we ever, ever get back to the lost paradise, the promised land that we all long for? In the midst of the five books of Moses we find a book that deals with that problem: Leviticus. In the midst of that book, we find the high priest, reconciling men with God on the day of atonement. In the midst of the first five books of the New Testament we find a book where many outsiders, people who were excluded, come into the picture: Luke’ Gospel. And surprisingly enough, through faith in Jesus they find inclusion! In the end of the Gospel we see amazing things. We see that Jesus, as the great High Priest, offers his life and is excluded to bring the ultimate day of atonement. And as a result, we see that even a great criminal, just before he would die, is welcomed by Jesus in paradise.

Put to the test, things become visible that were invisible before. In the harbour two ships may look alike. But in the storm the one turns out to be seaworthy, whereas the other isn’t - and perishes. Are you ready to be put to the test by your Maker? If all men were like you, would the world become a better place? Upcoming Sunday we will see that when Jesus had arrived at Jerusalem and when the Passover feast began, everyone would be put to the test. It turned out that the only one with no guilt was Jesus. We will learn how through Jesus we can be redeemed of guilt and can get ready for God’s ultimate test.

Someone said that the conversations Jesus had in the gospels were average less than a minute. But they had a huge impact! How can we have short encounters with greater impact? We will look at three things that can help us increase our impact with short encounters we have with people in our daily lives.

How precious is peace. And how sad is war. You don't want to see your city, your country ruined by war and violence. If it happens to your own country, you cry. When Jesus came into the world, he was announced by the angels as the bringer of peace on earth. But when he finally arrived at Jerusalem, also called `the city of peace', he foresaw Jerusalem's grim future. And he wept. Jerusalem needed Jesus to have peace. And so do we. Reject Jesus and all the things you expect peace from will finally fail. Receive and hold fast to Jesus and although all things may seem to fail you, you will see you have lasting peace.

'Mind the gap'. When you enter the London tube, you hear these words everywhere. The Bible also contains a message to mind a certain gap. A gap that can be bridged, but also a gap that makes people stumble and fall. A gap that has to do with the way we do, or do not, spend our money.