“After Easter, then what?” Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ arose from the dead and left the tomb and the cross empty! ... what then? Who is on the cross now, today? A friend of mine recently asked me this question. I racked my brain to have an answer to his question. I even asked if that was a trick question! He responded, after a chuckle or two, that it wasn’t a trick question. He shared with me his answer “the poor, the needy, the elderly the disenfranchised, the neighbors who have no bed to lay down on at night to rest”. I agreed with him and then moved on to another topic.

I circled back to a few notes I had made while on that call. I was stuck! What was his point? Better yet, what should I be looking to share with Mighty Men? I began researching a little which led me to the Gospel of John. I read in John 21: 15-17 Jesus had appeared to the seven disciples. In this beach scene, Jesus led Peter through an experience that would remove the cloud of his denial. Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved him. When Peter told him yes, Jesus told Peter to feed his sheep. It is one thing to say you love Jesus, but the real test is willingness to serve him. Our lives surely change when we finally realize and accept who Jesus is. Peter’s life certainly was impacted. As we all know, Peter left behind his identity and occupation of being a fisherman to one of being an evangelist.

How would you respond if Jesus asked you, “Do you love me?” Would you hesitate in your response and keep going through life or would you look to the cross today to see Jesus’ “sheep” hanging for all to see in their need and pain? In their most recent book, Change your World, John Maxwell, and Rob Hoskins state how they are committed to bringing positive change into the lives of people. Their book encourages and equips us to be a catalyst for transformation in our world: our families, our workplace, our community because anyone anywhere can make a difference. I believe they both see who is on the cross today and are committed to making a positive change in the world, as we are all called to do! I encourage each of you to do something you may not feel comfortable doing and be of service to a friend, a neighbor or even a stranger.

Where do we go from here? We need to open our eyes with clarity and see the marginalized and use both our words and actions to care for and minister to those who are suffering on the cross today! Mighty Men can help you wrestle with your questions, your struggles or even in your apparent numbness as a mature Christian, in saying YES, I do love you Jesus and I will follow you and serve your people. Everyday life pales by comparison to the resurrection of Jesus. Yet, that’s where we live, isn’t it ... in the everyday of life? Except for a few high moments here and there, most days are mundane and routine and anything but extraordinary.

I will tell you that when you surrender to Jesus, you begin living an intentional life which equips you to clearly see who is on the cross today! Every day, then. is the opportunity to live the love you share in Christ Jesus. I continue to pray to make a difference every day and not to accept anyone telling me I cannot make a difference in people’s lives no matter what stage in life I am blessed to be in today. God bless you all and may Jesus speak to your heart that you may know him and trust his plan for your life.

~ Hammer