PREACHER: REV. FIIFI FOH ARKHURST
Beloved in Christ, if we compare the manner in which the service of the world’s greatest men have been rendered and that in which Christ’s work of redemption has been rendered, we are immediately impressed with an outstanding contrast, for while the service of men is rendered during their life time and while Christ too, for that matter lived a life of unparallel service, the climax of Jesus’ work came at its very close, and our salvation is ascribed to his passion and death.
Dear Christian friends, we are reflecting on the importance of the passion and death of Jesus. The first reading from Isaiah reveals a valuable component of our salvation, the passion and death of Jesus that is the agony of Christ. It is amazing how much detail given by Prophet Isaiah came true in Jesus. For through his death Jesus did suffer for humanity. Again, by his death Jesus secured for all believers
1. Healing both spiritually and physically
2. Penalty for our sin.
My dear Christian friends in the second reading from the book of Hebrews the writer made a powerful statement that God will remember our sins no more. For Christ forgives completely, so there is no need to confess our past sins repeatedly. And as believers, we can be confident that the sins we confess and renounce are forgiven and forgotten. That all these have been made possible via the passion and death of Jesus. The writer of Hebrews continues to say that via the passion and death of Jesus, we have confidence to come to God. We can relate with God as a father without any inhibitions. In the 3rd reading we read about Jesus being tossed here and there by Annas and Caiaphas.
Dear Christian friends, it is interesting that the death which they thought to inflict on Jesus as dishonour and disgrace has become the glorious monument to death defeat. The death of Jesus Christ becomes not the end, but the beginning. It is not the end of the way, but the way of the beginning. For via his death, Jesus brought the end of death and the beginning of life. In other words, Jesus died that we might live. We deserve to die but Jesus decided to die in our stead. Decided to take our place so lift up your heart. Don’t be sorrowful. Hope for the future lies in what God did long ago via the death of Jesus. Remember, via his death Jesus has conquered the world. When night comes, pray “lead kindly light”. When there is no place to stand sing “how firm a foundation, ye saint of the Lord”. In the midst of our days and years Christ comforts us as surely as he did his sorrowing disciples long ago. And as Lord of life, he cries “I died and lived for you”.
Beloved in Christ, let us remind ourselves that via his death Jesus made a big sacrifice for us and the sacrifice accomplished a lot. For when Jesus died on the cross, he was giving his life so we could have eternal life. That is to say, Jesus died for our sins.
For the death of Jesus is a damage repair, so anytime you see a crucifix, consider how much Jesus gave to you and remember to be generous to others.
My dear Christian friends, the significance of the passion and death of Jesus cannot be overemphasised in any way. We were nobodies but his death has made us somebody.
Again, his death has given us assurance of salvation let us remember that the specific purpose of Christians death was to secure forgiveness for us as taught in scripture, for Christ suffered for sins once so that the unrighteous might be brought to God. Remember Jesus paid a debt he did not owe because you owed a debt you couldn’t pay.
It is my hope and prayer that the Lord will help you to bear the burden of the weak as Christ did and to learn that exultation comes only after humble selfless service.
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