Rescued by Jesus. That is what we are...It is so comforting to know that we have a Savior who has rescued us from our sins--One who loves us no matter what. Holy Week is a great time to take a closer look at how we can live more holy, and God-centered lives. Perhaps we need to learn to put others first before ourselves. Or we need to forgive someone who has offended or hurt us. Maybe we need to seek God out with all our hearts and make things right with Him by asking for His forgiveness as we celebrate the resurrection of Our Lord Jesus. That’s what Holy Week is all about.
“Praise be to the Lord [Jesus]…because he has come to his people and redeemed [rescued] them.”
Luke 1:68
The Most Sacred Week of the Year
Holy week is the most sacred week of the year for Christians all over the world. It is a special time when we remember and reflect on the life, suffering, and crucifixion of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, who died for your sins, and mine. We especially remember His resurrection when He rose from the dead on the 3rd day—which is why we celebrate Easter Sunday each year. So why did Jesus die for us and our sins on the cross?
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:16-17
Jesus: The Way, The Truth, and The Life
Over time, Jesus has been called by many names including: Lord and Savior / The Messiah / Redeemer / Our Rescuer / The Light of the World / Lamb of God / The Good Shepherd / Son of the Living God / God’s Only Begotten Son / Prince of Peace / King of Kings / The Way, the Truth, and the Life, to name just a few.
Regardless of what you call Jesus, this much is crystal clear: He is “the Greatest Hope the World has Ever Known.” That is because He IS our hope. If we follow and try to be like Jesus, He will show us the way to God the Father for all of eternity. Jesus will, among other things, reveal truth to us, and show us how to live a life that is pleasing to God.
[Jesus said] “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
This Bible passage tells us why we need Jesus. He IS the way to God. He IS our Lord and Savior. When we place our lives in Jesus’ hands, we are putting God first in our lives—something that brings God’s blessings and grace upon us and our families. Scripture also tells us:
“[Jesus said] “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12
Redeemed and Rescued by Jesus
God sent Jesus Christ into the world to be our Light; to rescue us, to redeem us, and most especially, to save us as only He can. For Jesus saves all who believe in Him from the throes of sin and death. When we live in Christ we are a new creation. There is new life, and most of all, eternal life, for those who believe in Him. Jesus died on the cross so we could be reconciled with God, forgiven and free from sin, and so that we could gain eternal life through God’s grace. Though He was both God and man, Jesus willingly suffered dearly, and died for our sins, and He did it selflessly, to lead us to salvation.
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12
On Holy Thursday, we commemorate the last supper. When we observe Good Friday, we reflect on the day that Jesus suffered and was crucified on the cross. As we come full circle on Easter morning, we celebrate with great joy the mystery of his resurrection, we remember the day that Jesus rose from the dead on the 3rd day, according to the scriptures. He died so that we could receive forgiveness for our sins and gain eternal life.
When you realize in a very personal way that Jesus Christ, God’s Only Son, gave His life especially for you and all of human kind, it is only natural to want to praise Him, and also to try to repay Him. But that is simply not possible, no matter how hard we try. We can, however, strive to be more loving and accepting of others, more like Jesus, in all that we say and do. By so doing, we may become a little kinder, gentler, more giving, more loving, and strive to serve Him with all our being. For scripture tells us just how we have been rescued by Jesus:
13” For he [God] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Colossians 1:13-14
Copyright 2023 | Adele M. Gill
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