Made New

Going into the cocoon, they were caterpillars…

Coming out of the cocoon, they are butterflies.

The caterpillar goes into a cocoon in order to end its caterpillar-ness.

It doesn’t emerge from the cocoon as a slightly improved caterpillar or a much better caterpillar.

It is something new—not a caterpillar, but a butterfly.

Caterpillar are considered pests.

I remember helping my dad cut caterpillar nests down from our trees and burn them in a fire pit.

I don’t recall ever trapping and burning butterflies.

In fact, as a kid I had the impression that seeing a butterfly was something notable, special, rare.

Did you know that Jesus didn’t come to make people better?

He didn’t.

Jesus didn’t come to make people better—he came to make people new.

When someone gets baptized in water, they are identifying with Jesus’ death (he went into the grave / we go down into the water).

Jesus didn’t stay in the grave. He rose again. He is alive!

The person being baptized doesn’t stay in the water…

When they get lifted back up out of the water, they are identifying with Jesus’ resurrection.

Baptism symbolizes death to the old self and a brand-new life in Jesus Christ.

Kinda reminds me of the caterpillar—ending it’s caterpillar-ness by going into the cocoon, being made new—and emerging as a new creation: a butterfly.

Self-improvement isn’t the goal.

Getting better and being better isn’t the objective.

“The important thing is being the new people God has made.” (Galatians 6.15 NCV)

Jesus didn’t come to make you better—he came to make you new.

Perhaps it’s time for you to let go of your old caterpillar-ness and be made new.

http://made-new.com/