April 12th, 2017 - Thoughts for your Week
Scripture: Luke 9: 23-26
“Whoever wants to be my disciple
must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to
save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for
someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of
me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his
glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
At
the Cross
In John 21, after Jesus’ resurrection, we read the story of Jesus appearing to the disciples. They’ve gone back to regular life; casting their nets out on the water. It must have been so strange for them after Jesus’ death, and they must have found little comfort in returning to their normal lives after their time with Him. So, there they were in the boat, catching nothing, and a man on the shore suggests they cast their nets to the other side and, lo and behold, they catch a ton of fish! In that moment, John realizes that it’s Jesus and declares; “it is the Lord!” And this is my favourite part: “As soon as Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord”, he wrapped his outer garment around him and plunged himself into the water.”
Ah, Peter. Can you imagine his relief at realizing that Jesus is alive, standing there before him? As N.T. Wright puts it; “Peter, who longed to see Jesus again and clearly had unfinished business with Him, grabbed his cloak and leapt into the sea.” Peter; who had denied his Lord three times and then watched him die. Peter didn’t hesitate. He needed Jesus. He was so desperate for him, that he jumped into the sea and swam straight to him. I am reminded of the necessity of doing the same, in all things. To always ‘swim’ straight to Him who is far more able than I am. To always see my need of a savior who has saved me, who is saving me, and who will save me.
We are walking wounded when we have already been set free. As His children, we are already healed by his stripes, but we don’t believe it. We are already filled with peace and joy, as His spirit lives within us, but we don’t taste it. We need to see what God sees when He looks upon us – we are washed in the blood of Christ and we have been set free! Oh that we could fully believe it!
What are you wrestling with as we draw closer to this Easter weekend. What is that one thing that keeps you from walking in the freedom of what Jesus has done for you? Can you leave it at the foot of the cross and look to Him who is ready and willing to bear your burden? Don’t hesitate. Run straight to Him!
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
1 Peter 2:24
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.
Psalm 103:2-4
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2
