Luke 23:33-34 “And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Luke 24:6 “He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee.”
Does this season where we remember Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection lead you to be somber and sad faced or to be joy filled and exhilarated?
Jesus’ desire is for each of us to experience true joy and excitement during this time and not walk through life with the weight of sin Jesus already carried on our shoulders.
Author Leo Buscaglia tells this story about his mother and their “misery dinner.” It was the night after his father came home and said it looked as if he would have to go into bankruptcy because his partner had absconded with their firm’s funds. His mother went out and sold some jewelry to buy food for a sumptuous feast. Other members of the family scolded her for it. But she told them that “the time for joy is now, when we need it most, not next week.” Her courageous act rallied the family.
What about you? Are your circumstances calling for doubt and depression? Are you on the wrong end of a business deal or relationship? Has your spiritual fire been waning down as of late?
Can I say to you, “the time for joy is now.” What have you and I to fear? What is left for you and I to be saddened over? Jesus defeated everything this world has to throw at us through His Crucifixion and Resurrection. Whether it be sin’s destructive force, or the real sting of death Jesus defeated all of it. He is as the scripture refers to Him as, “the healing balm of Gilead.” “Come to Me,” He says. “”Whosoever will come,” He says. This Passion week come to the Conqueror.
Look what Paul says to the church in Corinth, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Do you believe that today?
Then Jesus said John 10:10 “The thief comes to kill, to steal and to destroy, but I have come that you may have life and life more abundantly.” Will you let the Conqueror, Jesus give you the life you need?
My prayer for you, this Passion week, is that you would see Jesus, walk with Him and let Him pull you from the plans of death our enemy has for you and firmly plant you next to Him where there is life and life more abundantly. In Jesus name.
By His Spirit,
Pastor Bill