The alure of a story on the silver screen is the characters and how much they change in the face of, seemingly, irreconcilable differences with other characters. That change is called the arc. In Casablanca starring Humphry Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, Rick loves Ilsa but Ilsa is in love with Victor and his cause, (or is it just his cause?) Rick and Ilsa bid a painful farewell in Paris, but fate brings them together again in war-fogged Casablanca, a city of people looking for an escape from their personal past and Nazi Germany. Will Rick and Ilsa change, reconcile their differences or be forever apart?
Rick and Ilsa kissed, made up and went on their way. Reconciliation is not easy. It requires change. Rick changed from a cynic caring only about self, to a man with a cause beyond himself. Ilsa also changed from conflicted by emotion to convicted by purpose, to get on that plane to fight for peace.
Without real reconciliation there can be no real peace. Nations can wage war against nations for decades; churches can split and never return to their mission; and whole families can separate, never to know reunion. No one wins. No one gets blessed when there is no real make-up. But in God’s Kingdom—His family—real reconciliation is possible; the whole Kingdom can be blessed because of the King of the Kingdom who makes his triumphant entry this Palm Sunday with a win-win ministry of reconciliation.
How is God’s reconciliation a mutual reconciliation where all of God’s kingdom can be blessed? How is His reconciliation a win-win?
It will take divine intervention. We see it in Genesis 33 in the midst of warring brothers Jacob and Esau, who have been at odds since birth. God wants to bless both, but there will be no blessing without their reconciliation. It will require they change. God intends through one of them—Jacob—to bless all mankind and defeat sin and Satan through a Seed-King promised in Genesis 3. Part of that blessing is the reconciliation between God and man, and man and man. As King, there’s no place for a family feud in His Kingdom. You might be in a family feud right now where it looks like no one is winning. It doesn’t have to be a loses-lose situation.
In Genesis 33, we see two ways how God’s reconciliation is a win-win for his family where no one is left out. First, God’s reconciliation is a win-win because it brings divine reunion based on His promises no matter how irreparable the relationships. Second, God’s reconciliation is a win-win because, if necessary, it will bring a sovereign separation based on God’s purpose. Reunion and separation—both are part of God’s win-win reconciliation.
As you observe the triumphant entry of Christ, the promised king, this Palm Sunday, reflect on reconciliation and the personal changes God may be moving you toward to make that make-up happen. As He entered Jerusalem, Christ entered with His mission as King and Seed to defeat Satan and bless mankind—all mankind. He also entered the world with a ministry to reconcile God and man, and man and man so all will be blessed. But there can be no blessing without forgiveness and change. So, there is no better time than this Easter season to kiss and make up. Don't just watch the parade. Get in it. God is looking at you, kid.
First, God’s reconciliation is a win-win because it brings divine reunion based on His promises no matter how irreparable the relationship. God’s win-win reconciliation can be seen in Jacob and Esau’s reunion. A relationship that was seemingly beyond fixing is now highlighted with a hug and a kiss. And what a reunion—a divine reunion—it was.
4 But Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, hugged his neck, and kissed him. Then they both wept. Gen. 33:4
Now that I have seen your face and you have accepted me, it is as if I have seen the face of God. Gen 33:10b
Here’s the back story: The relationship had been on the mend for 20 years since Jacob conned both the birthright and blessing from his brother. Jacob had been hold up at Uncle Laban’s. There he was played by a craftier player. There began his process of change from a trickster to a humble servant. Jacob is now ready to come home and face his brother. God’s promise was all over this reunion. He promised He would be with Jacob to bring about this reunion.
15"Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." Gen. 28:15
God’s handprint was also literally on Jacob. Earlier in chapter 32, he got into a wrestling match with God in an angel-disguise. Jacob once known for grabbing hold of the heels of men to trip them up to get what he wanted, grabbed hold of God, and would not let go till God blessed him. God touched his hip, gave him a limp, and changed his name to Israel—which means one who strove with God—to remind him to trust God. Now he must trust God as he meets Esau. Will there be reconciliation or revenge?
Jacob has changed, but not completely. Some of the old Jacob was still in play. He divided his entourage, putting Leah and her sons first, Rachel and her sons behind. His thinking was that if Esau attacked him, his favored Rachel would be spared.
He also gave gifts to win his brother’s favor and called him lord, that he was here to serve him. What a reversal: the trickster who reversed the order twenty years ago—older serving the younger—now is calling the older brother “master” and bowing down to him seven times as a servant.
But now, none of that was necessary. Esau had changed, too. The man once ruled by satisfaction of his appetites, refused Jacob’s gifts. Scripture does not specifically say how God had graced him aside from his prosperity, but it was evident he had changed as well. Finally, at Jacob’s insistence, Esau accepted his brother’s gifts. But it was enough just to be reunited with Jacob. It showed on his Esau’s face. This reunion was truly a God thing.
True reconciliation is always an act of God’s grace and not the works of man. Romans 5:10 reminds us that we were like Esau and Jacob, enemies, but of God. We are now reconciled with God through the death of Christ our King:
10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Ro. 5:10
Since we have made up with God through Christ, we are now called to make reconciliation our ministry according to II Corinthians 5:17-18, if we are, in fact, changed:
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…. II Corinthians 5:17-18
Church, who can you kiss and make up with in your ministry of reconciliation? What spiritual do you need to do to make that happen?
That family member who has rejected you…
That church member who has abandon the church…
That co-worker who has maligned you in the past…
Studies have shown unresolved unforgiveness can produce mental, physical, as well as spirituals consequences:
· Chronic stress can produce cardiovascular issues, high blood pressure and bulimia.
· Chronic stress can produce impaired communication skills, and decision-making.
· Chronic stress due to unforgiveness can produce depression, anxiety, short-temperament.
As you observe the triumphant entry of Christ, the promised Seed-King, this Palm Sunday, reflect on your reconciliation ministry and the necessary personal changes God may be calling you to make for make up to happen. Christ entered Jerusalem with a mission and ministry. His mission as King and Seed is to defeat Satan and sin and bless mankind—all mankind. But there can be no blessing without reconciliation. So His ministry is the reconciliation of God and man, and man and man. It’s a win-win that brings reunion based on His promises no matter how broken a relationship. So, there is no better time than Easter, to kiss and make up. Don't just watch the parade. Get in it. God is looking at you, kid.
Second, God’s reconciliation is a win-win because it can bring, if necessary, a sovereign separation based on His purpose. Sometimes win-win means you go one way and I go another. Esau and Jacob did.
So, Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built for himself a house and made booths for his livestock; therefore, the place is named Succoth. Gen. 33:16,17
The brothers each went their own ways but not before old Jacob was up to his deceiving ways. He purposely let Esau lead, feigning that his entourage was too tired and slow. So, when it was convenient, Jacob then took a left turn to Succoth.
Nevertheless, God orchestrated their destinations suited to their demeanors and His purpose. Esau went to Seir which means wild and untamed, befitting who Esau was—wild and profane of the things sacred to God like the birthrights and blessings he devalued.
Jacob, on the other hand, went to Succoth, the first stop in returning to Canaan as promised by God in chapter 17:8. This separation was a mutual blessing in the plan of God. Here is a principle and application we can learn from God’s win-win reconciliation ministry of sovereign separation.
Principle: God’s plan for reconciliation sometimes includes going your separate way because there as some people and places you are better distanced from like when Paul and Barnabas had differences over Mark in Acts 15. Paul and Barnabas were at odds over taking Barnabas’s cousin Mark who had abandoned them earlier on an earlier mission trip. Paul could not count on Mark. Barnabas, the encourager, however, wanted him. Here was an irreconcilable fork in the road. But not quite. A Godly, sovereign separation is always an option for believers who finds themselves in what appears to be an irreconcilable place.
and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. 40But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. Acts 15:39,40
Paul took Silas and went their way. Barnabas hooked up with cousin. In the end, according to II Tim 4:11, Paul regained faith in John Mark, so much so that, he said to Timothy to go get him because he would be valuable to his ministry. Separation can be a good thing.
11Only Luke is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service. II Tim.4:11
Application: Trust God, and not deception, in making the difficult decision to avoid places and people who are not a blessing. Some people God wants you reconciled with but separated from. Go your separate ways in peace.
As you observe Palm Sunday and the triumphant entry as Christ, the promised king, whose ministry is reconciliation, reflect on your reconciliation ministry and the necessary personal change He may be calling you to. Only you and God know that change. Are there some people you need to make-up with and make a move from? A God-led reconciliation, if necessary, may mean a peaceful separation so that there is a win-win blessing for the entire family of God. There can be no blessing without forgiveness. There is no better time than Easter to kiss and make up. God is looking at you, kid.
Reconciliation is not easy, but possible in God’s kingdom because of His King’s win-win ministry of reconciliation. It’s a win-win ministry because God can orchestrate a divine reunion based on His promises no matter how irreparable a relationship. Second, God’s reconciliation is a win-win because, if necessary, it brings sovereign separation based on God’s purpose. Reunion and separation—both are part of God’s win-win reconciliation.
This is Palm Sunday. King Christ has entered the city with a ministry—reconciliation. Has he entered your life with “making up” on your mind? Are you willing to change like Jacob and Esau. This is a good time with three days remaining in Lent, to reflect on reconciliation and the changes, reunion and, peaceful separation that brings with a win-win for the whole family of God.
Rick reconciled with Ilsa. They changed. They kissed and made up and went their separate ways for the cause of love and country. No one loss. They had their Casablanca moment. But we have our greater Calvary moment and an empty tomb full of reconciliation blessings. That’s why there is no better time than Easter to kiss and make up. Isn’t that’s what resurrection is all about? Don't just watch the parade. Get in it.
God is looking at you, kid
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