A Fruitful Life

Today is Good Friday, the day the Messiah, the Son of God, the Lamb was slain. I think about Christ’s crucifixion, and I can only imagine the physical pain He suffered through his scourge and death. I know I cannot fully comprehend the emotional burden he carried by taking on the sins of humanity, the rejection of the Father, and mortality of being human. As we read about Jesus’ interaction with others, especially the outcast, oppressed, hurting and downtrodden, we get a glimpse of the depth of His compassion for us. Throughout His 3 year tour from the Sea of Galilee to Jerusalem, the Son of God healed the hurting, freed the oppressed, fed the multitudes, encouraged the weak, eased the heavy burdened, and gave dignity and hope to the least of these.

Jesus entrusted the 12 chosen men from all backgrounds and walks of life to be his disciples. In John 15, Jesus gave instructions to be a true disciple you must: obey His commands, love one another, and serve. If they remain in His love as a branch of the vine of Christ, they will bear much fruit. “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” – John 15:8 The disciples were later commissioned to go, teach, preach, and baptize in the same love and compassion Christ exemplified.

This past weekend I attended a funeral service for a faithful disciple of Christ, my Aunt June. She lived her life, not just in a title of Christian, not in being religious, but in love and service to the most vulnerable in her community. In one of the most extraordinary funeral’s I have ever attended the compassion of Christ was the crown of her life. My Aunt June was remembered for her love and service to her family, church and friends, but also as a faithful disciple of Christ to the unlovable, downtrodden and neglected. She served for 25 plus years to the young men and women in juvenile detention. She served the homeless, hungry and naked at the local rescue mission for 25 years. She ministered to the men and women in prison for over 25 years. I can visualize my Aunt June sitting next to a man or woman without much hope, suffering in pain, guilt or shame, and hardened by life. I can see her listening to painful stories with a compassionate ear and tearful eyes. When she offers an encouragement of hope, to be a lifeline through friendship, and through acts of unceremonious service she is the embodiment of Christ’s compassion, a faithful disciple. What a fruitful life!

As you would expect her funeral was filled with mourning hearts and tears, yet there was the tender presence of the compassion of Christ and the powerful work of his transforming love through her life of devotion and service to Him. I have no doubt of Jesus embracing her in Heaven with the affirming words, “Well done thou good and faithful servant”.

Good Friday may be the day of tears and mourning, but we know the Son will rise and conquer death and sin. As he wipes away every tear we know He is our hope and the fulfillment of God’s love for us throughout eternity.