Encouragement for Life

The storyteller and preacher, Robert Petterson, shares a story from his family in his book, “The One Year Book of Amazing Stories”. Robert’s father was a fisherman, not a theologian, but his actions at dinner one night “were as eloquent a sermon as has ever been delivered on the meaning of the Cross.”

Robert’s sister and her date were having dinner at the Pettersen’s before going to the prom. The date was a farm boy and noticeably uncomfortable in his starched shirt and J.C. Penney suit.  Robert’s mom served spaghetti and meatballs as his sister and her date sat at the table dressed for their prom. 

As fate would have it, a meatball fell off the farm boy’s fork and rolled down his tie and white shirt. Of course, the boy was embarrassed, and Robert’s sister gasped. 

Robert said his father reached for the bowl of spaghetti and meatballs and dumped the contents down the front of his own shirt. Everyone started laughing and the young man relaxed.  With the help of a borrowed shirt and tie, the couple was chauffeured off to the prom by Robert’s father.  

As Robert finishes the story he writes, “When my fisherman dad dumped that bowl of spaghetti and meatballs on himself that night, he showed me what my heavenly Father did at the Cross.”

Yes, it’s true. Jesus took our messes of sin and put them on himself. He took the punishment we deserve because of our rebellion and allowed himself to become our Passover Lamb, the Lamb of God!  Unlike the Old Testament sacrificial lambs, The Lamb of God resurrected on the third day to become our Savior, triumphant over sin and death.  He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24). 

“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:4). 

Happy Resurrection Day!