Celebrating Redemption
Each person surrounding Jesus played an important part in his ministry, his death, burial and resurrection. Jesus knew who surrounded him. As I read the account of Jesus’ arrest, death and resurrection, I wondered which person I might have been.
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Jesus was surrounded by ordinary men and women that supported his ministry. In their full humanity, they witnessed Jesus, being fully human, yet fully God. He performed miracles, spoke to thousands, drove out demons, and rebuked the Pharisees. These men and women had the glorious opportunity to witness all this firsthand. However, even so, many doubted and denied him, and one betrayed him. Yet, he loved them still.
I cannot help but wonder which of these men or women I would have been. Would I have been Peter wielding a sword attacking the soldier at Jesus’ arrest then denying him three times? Would I have been Thomas who required to see Jesus’ scars before he believed he had been resurrected? Would I have been Mary Magdalene, Johanna, Salome, James and John’s mother expecting to find the human Jesus rather than the resurrected Jesus?
I would have to say, I most likely have been all of these at some point. I have passionately defended Jesus only later to deny him when my life did not turn out as I planned. I have doubted Jesus on many levels and have cried out for him to prove himself to me. I have been the women expecting humanity, but not the holy. And, yet, he loved me still.
Never in my doubt, my rebellion, or my hiding has Jesus ever denied me his love, grace, mercy, hope, and forgiveness. As he has done for me, so he does for you.
Celebrating Redemption
Easter is a celebration of all Jesus conquered on the cross and with the resurrection. He bore our sins and became the ultimate sacrifice in our place. And the power of his love for us, his obedience even to the death on the cross, and his resurrection is why we can boldly approach God’s throne (Hebrews 4:16).
We are no longer bound to sin, death or shame. By his wounds we have been healed (Isaiah 53:5). We are his sons and daughters (1 Peter 2:9). When we accept Jesus as our Savior and commit our lives to him, we not only are able to celebrate all that Jesus has done and continues to do, but also, we get to celebrate that the same power that raised him from the dead also lives in us! We can rejoice because Jesus’ love covers the denials, rejections, doubts, and all that we have done in sin.
It is finished (John 19:30). The work of redemption is complete. May we rejoice in a Savior who paid in full for me and you!