Editor’s Note: As we go through this Holy Week, it’s easy to get distracted by all the things that need to be done before the BIG DAY on Sunday. Here’s a great reminder of the significance of this day we are celebrating.
By Tom Yerman
It’s a beautiful day in the week we are remembering the passion of Christ as He entered Jerusalem. How appropriate for the inch of snow that fell last night and is covering the landscape this Tuesday morning, April 15, 2014. Perhaps it’s a heavenly Easter reminder of God’s call to come and reason with Him – “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow.” Those words of Isaiah 1:18 sing out with the harmony of encouragement and joy that Easter brings.
Those words point to the resurrection. The resurrection that demands that humanity take their eyes off themselves and place them on God! God the Son, Jesus Christ, who left the glories of heaven to walk in a world of darkness, sin, and Satan’s reign. As with the apostles, our eyes must remain focused on Him! On Him who was resurrected from the dead. On Him who alone can forgive a person their sin. On Him who turns weeping into rejoicing. On Him who makes all the difference in the world. Keep your eyes on Him!
It’s been almost 2,000 years since Jesus died and rose again. His resurrection is everything! Yes, His character, His teaching, His example, and even His death are important, but these are not the foundation – His resurrection is. Everything else is built upon His resurrection. As Paul stated, “if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” – 1 Corinthians 15:14. Keep your eyes on Him!
This week and beyond we must remember:
1. Jesus, Son of God, humbly put on the flesh and walked amongst us as a man.
2. Jesus willingly cooperated in the plan of God the Father.
3. Jesus strategically entered the place of Jerusalem to give His life for mankind.
4. Jesus lovingly faced the people who misunderstood, abused, and crucified Him.
5. Jesus courageously suffered and paid the penalty for our sin.
6. Jesus perfectly fulfilled the prophecy of God’s Messiah who was to come.
7. Jesus gloriously resurrected from the dead is proof of God’s love.
8. Keep your eyes on Him!
The empty tomb and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the solid fact and rock foundation of the Christian faith. Wherever we are in our Christian life we must discipline ourselves in cooperation with the Holy Spirit to see, feel, think, speak, listen, and act as if we had felt the touch of His hand and heard His voice from heaven speaking to us as the apostle John did in Revelation 1:17-18, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” And spiritually speaking, we have. Keep your eyes on Him!
So Let us move forward knowing our faith rests securely on an immovable foundation. Jesus was risen from the dead, and is sitting at the right hand of God and will be coming back. Jesus’ position at the right hand of God is one of power (Matthew 26:64). The apostle Paul tells us that the resurrection declared Jesus Christ as the Son of God with power (Romans 1:6). Jesus is the One who defeated sin, death, and Satan. He holds the keys to death and Hades. He triumphed over all His enemies. He alone is King of kings and Lord of lords. Keep your eyes on Him!
What do we have in this living hope? Everything! Our resurrection and inheritance is coming. Is there something within you that is crying out, hopelessness or despair, sin or shame, failure, disgrace, disease or death of this life? Remember what Peter said, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4). While we are away from Home and still on earth, we are shielded by God’s power through our faith. Keep it, embrace it, live it. While we won’t need it there, we uncompromisingly need it here. Keep your eyes on Him!
Tom Yerman has been an FCA Pastor and Minister for many years in the Chicagoland area.
