Question: When this common household item was first introduced, it was considered scandalous, sinful and excessive. What was it?
Answer: The fork!
Crazy right?! According to historians, it took eight centuries from its first recorded sighting for the fork to become universal at tables in the West. It wasn’t until in 1633 when King Charles the first of England declared the fork “decent” that the Western world began to see it as an acceptable alternative to the spoon or knife. You can learn more about this in the National Geographic Article, “How the Simple Fork Almost Tore Apart the Fabric of Society.” https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/dinner-fork-history
An even more scandalous idea to the religious leaders of the first century than the fork, and even still to many today, is the idea that God would humble Himself by becoming a human man in order to suffer and die to redeem His people from sin and death, then rise again so we could too. Jesus showed us that the way to life that is truly life is through giving our lives for others in love for God and people — the total opposite of the way the World seeks to find life.
That’s the subject of today’s sermon. As we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ, pastor Jill brings us a message called “What Are You Thinking?”