This book arrived in my Kindle today. I read the Preface and want to respond. Rob Bell begins by saying…
“First, I believe that Jesus’ story is first and foremost about the love of God for every single one of us. It is a stunning, beautiful, expansive love, and it is for everybody, everywhere.”
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (ESV).
At this point, I totally agree with Bell. Jesus’ story is indeed stunning–in so many different ways. It is stunning that the Divine chose to become human. It is stunning that God broke into human history and changed it forever. It is stunning that man’s evil choices actually accomplished the will of God. It is stunning that one so sinless would even want to die for someone like me so sinful! So many things are stunning indeed about the story of Jesus!
Jesus’ story is indeed beautiful–in so many different ways. It is beautiful to see the role of servant elevated by Jesus. It is beautiful to see the priority that Jesus places on the dignity of human persons. It is beautiful to see Jesus take children into his lap. It is beautiful to see the story of Jesus unfold in surprising ways. It is beautiful to see the work of Jesus begin in my own heart, and faithfully sustain me until God is finished with me. So many things are beautiful indeed about the story of Jesus!
Jesus’ story is indeed about his expansive love. The word “whoever” is universal, for everybody, everywhere. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. All peoples and all nations are invited to look to the one who was lifted up for the sins of humanity. “Whoever” is such a universal appeal, and often it is hard to understand how God, Jesus and the Spirit could be so indiscriminate. No ethnicity, no language, no culture, no country, no nation, no continent is excluded from this universal offering of love.
God so loved the world!
I am anxious to see how Rob Bell testifies to this truth. Stay tuned for more comments.
In Christian love, Curtis
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