Cross Eyed
Submitted by Guy Roberts on June 22, 2009 - 10:31pm
There have been some great discussions going on at St. John’s about this summer’s sermon series on the Gospel of Mark. Last week, one of these great discussions made me realize that the Gospel of Mark has a specific focus. After reflecting upon it I think this focus deserves some attention on our website, thus the title for this blog. “Cross Eyed”. I think this is a helpful way to highlight the focus of the Gospel.
This description came to me the other day right in the middle of a frustrating moment. You know one of those moments where things aren’t going as you want them to? Surrounded by my frustrations I gave up… I threw my head back, my shoulders slumped and I sighed heavily. I have a habit of doing this and as I do it I usually let my eyes un-focus as if to just take a break for a second, even from seeing. It was right at this moment, taking a second to reboot, that a conversation I had with Pastor Rob popped to mind from one of those great discussions we’ve been having. He told me (I am paraphrasing here) that he likes Mark because he doesn’t spend a lot of time in the details. He just gets to the point and the point or the place he wants to take us is the Cross. Mark wants to take us to the place where our salvation was claimed and is now declared. It was right then in the midst of frustration about my inability to control my circumstances and being reminded of the message of the Gospel of Mark that it hit me. Right at this moment when almost literally cross eyed in frustration, right when I realized that I was not in control, right when my shoulders has slumped in submission; Right here at this moment I was reminded of where I was supposed to be the whole time. It was as if Jesus was saying to me “Finally… You are cross eyed. “
You might be wondering what I am talking about, but let me explain. You see with a quick Google search I learned that the term “Cross Eyed” is not original at all. In fact it’s become a cliché in some Christian circles. My search found this phrase was the title for sermons, devotions and Bible studies. There is even a Christian heavy metal band that reaches both Christian and secular audiences named “Cross Eyed”. But almost all of these resources use this term the exact opposite of what it actually means to be a disciple of Christ and where Mark is leading us. Listen to the quote from a member of the band “Cross Eyed. “
“I have always felt that God had a special purpose for me musically, but I was too blind by the sin of the world to see my true calling. God has always been there for me, & blessed me when I was in doubt of myself. I think that if I would have looked harder, the bluriness of my life would have become clear sooner. God has been in my face this whole time, but I have been too crosseyed (by sin) to notice. Also, it means "keep your eye on the cross" for guidance through life”
Anyone who has ever lived in the struggle of sin, knows that becoming Christian does not make the struggle against sin easier. No amount of struggle or looking harder as the member of Cross Eyed said, can make the blurriness of life become clearer. The struggle will always remain and our earthly circumstances might even get worse, but there is a peace and a confidence that comes in submission to Christ. This is because Peace, Hope, Love and Confidence all flow from the Cross for this is where Christ saves.
This is going to be an awesome sermon series this summer because Mark does not let our gaze wander anywhere other than the Cross. This is exactly where he is driving and he is doing it at break neck speed. The reality is that we could never get to the cross fast enough in life, in fact without his calling we could never get there at all, but the Lord did and our salvation rests there.
So sit back this summer and enjoy the race. Enjoy Mark; reflect upon the glory of Christ and reflect on his journey, specifically where He is headed. For in His race to the cross, Christ is calling us to live as His disciples… As those who do not glory in ourselves or in our works but as those who live life cross eyed… As those who cling to Him and the Cross he allowed himself to be hung upon… As those who submit to our Lord, call upon his name and serve our neighbors… through the joys and tragedies, celebrations and frustrations, pain, suffering and healings of life…
I will leave you with these encouraging words from the Apostle Paul, who so perfectly describes the focus of the Cross eyed…
Romans 8:31-39
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died – more than that who was raised – who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the daylong; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- P. Guy
