Picnic On A Green Lawn

Rally Day.
A day set aside each year at our church.
The day the summer ministries end and the fall ministries begin.
It always culminates with a picnic after church services.

It is so wonderful for the church family to celebrate together.
Meal fellowship.
Something very important to God.

Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. (Mark 6:39-44)

A picnic on a green lawn!

Only in Jesus’ hands could a little bit of food go so far.
Only Jesus could perfectly provide…exactly twelve lunch pails for His hungry disciples.
Only in Jesus’ hands.

Many think that once they come to Christ…once they are saved…their faith journey will be a picnic on a green lawn.

Who says?

Seems to me, God’s Word says the opposite.

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
(John 16:33)
When trouble and persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
(Matthew 13:21)

What if we shared the Gospel and told the whole story?
We need to explain that when you follow Christ…it means that you must come and die.

Die to self.
Die to taking control.
Die to the old ways.
Die to sin.

A false prosperity Gospel is preached today.
Follow Jesus and you will be healthy, wealthy, and wise.

Not so , Jesus says.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24)

Cross bearing.
Not exactly a picnic on a green lawn.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. (Colossians 1: 15-17)

That is who Jesus is…The Word made flesh…the Son of God…Creator.

But this is also who He is:

And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7)

Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head. They clothed Him in a purple robe and went up to Him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they struck Him in the face.
(John 19:1-3)

Why should we expect a picnic on a green lawn, when we come to Christ?
It was no picnic for Him while He was here among us!

Jesus deserved to have angels bowing before Him.
Instead, He had cows lying around his manger.

Jesus deserved to be clothed in splendor…like the glory that was revealed on the mountain when He was transfigured before two of His disciples.
Instead, He was clothed in mock regalia…caked with His blood.

Jesus deserved to be lifted up in exaltation.
Instead, He was lifted up in humiliation on a cross.

Surely, no picnic on a green lawn for Him.
Why do we expect a picnic on a green lawn for us?

Have we misrepresented what it means to follow Him?
Have we told only half of the story?

We have struggles and we don’t understand why.
We are persecuted and we cry “Unfair!”
We have trials.
We think that being His disciple should guarantee us a smooth journey to heaven.

I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow to attain to the resurrection of the dead. (Philippians 3:10,11)

Knowing Christ through suffering…dying…to be resurrected…NEW!

There will be a picnic…not on a green lawn…but on streets of gold.
There will be meal fellowship at the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.
Every trial, every persecution, every struggle will be forgotten.

That meal is important to God.
We have arrived safely home.
It hasn’t been easy…in fact…it was hard…just like Jesus said it would be.

Well done…good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness. (Matthew 25:23)