Written by Michelle Wyatt
How do you visualize victorious living? As I sit on my couch listening to an old Cross Movement song: “What do you see?” I am listening to the depiction of the crucifixion of our Lord and Savior. I was compelled to look to the scriptures about the events that led up to this moment. Jesus went through every emotion known to man. How often do you reflect on this? During holy week, most of us contemplate the path to the cross. I usually watch “The Passion” in the comfort of my living room. The movie always brings me to tears when I see the cruelty and harshness that Jesus had to endure. I cringe as I watch the blood run down his lifeless body.
Jesus watched the people praise him, shouting “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” The crowd lauded him because they saw the miracles that he did and deep down, they knew that no one could perform these miracles unless they were sent from God. But notice, they applauded him, but I they did not acknowledge him as God. They said, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Little did they know that they were hailing the Lord in the flesh. They probably thought that Jesus would rule as the next king, and they were looking to be saved through the next kingship. Does that sound familiar? Why do we look for political parties to fix problems that require spiritual solutions?
Don’t get me wrong, I am going to vote, but I am not looking for any political party to solve the solutions of this world. The Lord is the only solution to our problems. We are suffering from spiritual sickness. Many are disappointed with the events that are unfolding, yet how many times do we seek the Lord for our answers? It is election time, and I sometimes listen to politicians spew their generic 5 point plans for improving the economy, working conditions, health care and state and local governments. One political party wishes to make the other party look like they are morally inferior, but I do not think that there is a party that is morally superior or inferior. I do believe that God is the ultimate judge of the hearts of men.
Once people understood that Jesus was not looking for political power, but instead declaring himself the son of the living God, they betrayed him. They asked in Matthew 13:55, “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?” They wanted to know who Jesus thought that he was. Did he think that he was greater than the prophets? Jesus did not back down. His stance took him to the cross. At the cross, he suffered, bled and died for the sins of humanity. He took all of my faults and failures on his back. He did not say a word. Why did he do this?
Jesus knew that the answer to the sins of mankind was through his own death, burial, and resurrection. He predicted his death in John 12:23-25. It states, “But Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.…”
Because Jesus laid down his life, we too can live in victory in life and death. Will we always hit the mark? No, but we know that through his blood, we all can have a 2nd chance. He is the chain breaker, and he is my redeemer.
