What Does Saved Mean?

 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, 

that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, 

but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:16-17

Who is Jesus?

“Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John:

“What did you go out into the wilderness to see? 

A reed shaken by the wind?

What then did you go out to see? 

A man dressed in soft clothing? 

Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 

What then did you go out to see? 

A prophet? 

Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, "'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'

Matthew 11:2-10

A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God."

Isaiah 40:3

Joyeux Noel!

Wave

A wave

Comes, making right what was wrong

Not with a flood

This one fulfills

Saturates

Softens dry ground

So what was planted can grow

It will be different

Wonderful

Can you imagine?

You won't have to try 

To see

For long

It's happening right now

We'll all see it

Cold

I am walking in Siberia, a long way from home. It is cold, icy, beautiful in springtime, they say. An open field stands between the precipice I am on and all the others. It is full of flowers. They break through the ice and the springtime as if they were the same thing. There is no warmth and no cold to these flowers. They bloom regardless. Sometimes they are angry, or hurt, wounded, but still they bloom. They are like fire on stalks, swaying in the breeze, igniting everything around them. 

I am walking and Siberia is changing. It is getting warmer.

I pray as I walk because Siberia's hope comes from God. As I walk, I run into another's prayer. It meets me here, this prayer, said a hundred years ago or more by someone chained like me. Someone devastated. And our prayers meet here. Here, where prisoners were once sent, but now people come with purpose. They save and strive and work to come here to live free, where the ice has melted and fire blooms on the earth.

I listen to the prayer. Before I hear it I know. I know this is a prayer for someone's enemy. A forgiveness prayer. Lord, bless them and keep them. Make your face to shine upon them and give them peace. I take it as mine, because I am cold, and I want to be warm.

John 3:16

For God so 

LOVED

the world

Simple

God

Loves

You