|
Palm Sunday has ushered us into the Holy Week, leading up to Easter. Today is Holy Wednesday, which invites us into the quiet tension of the final days before the crucifixion. It is a day of reflection, sitting between the triumphant entry of Palm Sunday and the agony of Good Friday. It’s a time for us to steady ourselves Spiritually, Emotionally and Mentally for what is to come.
The writer of Hebrews is speaking to a weary, struggling people, who need strength to persevere. When we look back at the past few weeks of what is occurring in our society and among us, we find ourselves struggling this Holy Week. Feeling the pressures of life, tempted to retreat from it all, and questioning how to keep moving forward. The encouragement is clear: “Fix Your Eyes On Jesus.”
Jesus did not stumble onto the cross. He endured it. He chose the cross “for the joy set before Him.” What was that joy? It was the joy of redeeming us, of restoring creation, of defeating death once and for all. On Holy Wednesday we remember:
- that Christ walked toward the cross with purpose;
- he endured betrayal, opportunities, and shame not because he had to, but because he loves us;
- and that the race we are running is not in vain, and we are not running alone;
- we are surrounded by a “cloud of witnesses” those who lived faithfully, many who suffered greatly, and all of whom now testify to the worthiness of the path marked out by God.
The words to the hymn by Isaac Watts, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” are a call to worship, to surrender, to fix our eyes on the One who endured the cross for love. The words are:
“When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of Glory died,
my richest gains I count as loss
and pour contempt on all my pride.”
On this Holy Wednesday, it gives language to the humility we feel as we reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice for us. Let us intentionally Fix Our Eyes on Jesus, as he journeys towards the cross, in preparation to sacrifice it all, to save sinners by grace alone, and in Christ alone.
We pray: keep us close to you Lord God as we follow you to the cross and beyond to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.
Pastor Andrea (Rev. Andie)
|
