Your Mess Matters Pt. 4: Your Mess & the Cross

Intro

[Slide 1] When was the last time you came home a total mess? I grew up as a messy kid. I love the outdoors, getting all muddy, jumping in every puddle I could find, and working with my hands. [Slide 2] Now the thing with my family growing up was aside from my Pops who I lived with, the rest of my family HATED getting messy. Guess what that meant? I would always try to get my family messy! [Slide 3] One time, while my whole family was together, I had an idea. I went to my mom’s shower, unscrewed the silver shower head, and do you know those red Kool-Aid packages [Slide 4]? I put a whole pack into the shower head and then screwed it back on. My mom likes to sleep in until like noon on weekends - anyone else like that? Well when she got up, she got in the shower… And guess what came out of the shower? [Slide 5] A BUNCH OF BRIGHT RED LIQUID! She screamed and I knew what that meant. I got her. But that’s where the funny part for me ends. What I heard next, no context is, “YOU’RE DEAD MEAT” as my mom practically kicked down the door and charged at me while covered in a sticky and red stained towel. [Slide 6] I couldn’t tell if the red on her face was because of the Kool-Aid or because she was mad. I tried to run and I almost made it out of the door… Almost. She caught me and let’s just say I had a very close relationship with her belt.

What made this funny to me was that my mom hated getting messy. Whenever I would get covered in mud, I’d run to give her a hug and she’d run away. She’d see a puddle and go as far away from the puddle as possible because she knew her moron of a son would go “CANNON BALL” into that puddle, just wanting to cause havoc. She hated my mess. However, we’re going to see a story about a family member who had the opposite reaction. We will learn that Your Mess isn’t too Big for the Cross.

Text

In the story of Jesus’ life written by a doctor named Luke, he records one of the stories Jesus told about life lessons and what the relationship between us and God was like. [Slide 7] Jesus explains that there’s father who had two sons. The youngest son asks his father to give him his inheretance early while he was still alive… This was basically the modern day equivalent of you going up to your parents saying, “I wish you were dead so I could have all your money.” How would you react if your kid said that to you? Anyways, the father, probably hurt that his own son said “You’re dead to me,” gives half of his wealth to this son.

The son proceeds to live a wild life. In fact this story titled, “The Prodigal Son” is actually a bit of an insult. [Slide 8] The Greek word used here is ἀσώτως (as-oah-toas) which means ‘wasteful.’ This story is called the wasteful son. [Slide 9] This son earns that title. He spends his money on party living, alcohol, parties, sex, and anything he could spend. He would not too long later spend his last dollar. Now he’s broke. No job, no money, no food. [Slide 10] So he became a caretaker of pigs - which was discraceful for a Jewish person since pigs were ‘unclean’ animals. Imagine if you were a vegan, and the only way to survive was working at a slaughterhouse. Would you do it if it meant survival? Imagine how much you would hate your life in that scenario. The story actually shows that the son became envious of the pig slop the pigs ate.

So the son has a moment of realization that even his father’s servants had a way better life. So he devises a plan to go home and beg his father to let him work as a servant. So he heads home and this is where the we’ll read what happens next. [Slide 11]

Luke 15:20–24 NIV

So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ [Slide 12] “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

[Slide 13] What a scene! The son, discraced, humiliated, ashamed, who has no pride, no self-worth left, crawls back to his father. The father, sees his son and without hesitation, runs to him - which in Ancient Middle Eastern culture, was degrading. Why run to someone when they can come to you? Then embraces his son who was working with pigs. Dirty, smelly, probably covered in pig dung. The father doesn’t yell at him, just showers him with love, and celebrates his return.

What makes this scene so impactful, is how relatable it is to many of us. This again repeats our big idea that [Slide 14] Your Mess isn’t too Big for the Cross. We’ve all taken God’s mercy & grace and abused it. We’ve all squandered what He’s given us. We’ve all been a prodigal son or daughter. We’ve all messed up. But when we crawl back to God, He doesn’t meet us with anger, but a genuine love, an embrace. [Slide 15] Maybe you don’t have that experience with your father or mother. Maybe you’ve messed up only to be met with criticism and insults and kicking you while you’re down. Trust me, I get that. However, a relationship with God is so much more warm, loving, accepting.

I had walked away from Christianity and was involved with gangs. My Pops was there when I had hit rock bottom because that’s what happens when you’re involved with that crowd. He never reprimanded me when I began to ask questions about my doubts. He just ate food with me and we journeyed together until I found Christ again. In grade 12 I played football, my Pops used to watch my games in highschool before he passed away. One game I had dislocated my knee. I got carried off the field and had to go to the hospital. My Pops came OVER TO ME, saw my current state, sweaty, stinky, injured, crying, and dejected. Then he just hugged me and said the words, “I’m so proud of you.” No bringing up the past, No disappointed look that I might have messed up my season, just an embrace. My mess wasn’t too big for him. He taught me that my Mess isn’t too Big for Jesus.

Jesus paid for my mess and yours when He went to the Cross. All of the punishment, all of the debt that we can’t pay, He took it all on Himself. When we are broken, Jesus sees us while we’re so far away. He sprints OVER TO US, embraces us and doesn’t just tell us how proud He is of us, He showed it by taking every bad thing about us to the Cross with Him. Your Mess isn’t too Big for the Cross.

Now the story doesn’t end right here. Remember that there were two sons. The oldest son, who never ‘did anything wrong’ gets upset that his younger brother gets a party when he never got anything for being the good guy. Fair. However, the father tells him that he’s not celebrating the youngest’s behaviour, he still spent all his inheretance. But anytime someone comes back, it’s always worth celebrating. The thing about Jesus is that He wasn’t very good at ending His stories. Did the youngest change his ways? Did the oldest see things differently? The thing about this story is that we get put into it. I’ve been the prodigal son and I’ve been the older brother in my life. But either way, no matter who you identify with more, Your Mess isn’t too Big for the Cross.

Maybe you’re here and you’ve never had that relationship with Jesus. You’ve been so ashamed of your mess that you’re letting it fester and it’s exhausting you. I want to give you all an opportunity to redefine your relationship with Jesus, whether it’s for the first time or the 30th.