LET THE CHAMPION ARISE

Psalm 19:5 says “[The sun] is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.” What a picture of Jesus!

The bridegroom who came forth more than 2000 years ago for all sinners, including you and I. Just to think of the excitement of a groom waiting for his bride – except that Christ did the reverse – He came down!

Like most Christians around the world, I commemorate Christ’s death and celebrate His resurrection this weekend.

Sadly, I think the year-in, year-out repetition of Easter makes me less aware, less grateful, of what Jesus did.

But this scripture wrecked me – the sun, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. I sat and thought about that for a minute – why does he rejoice?  Because he knows he is up for the challenge. He knows he’s going to win! And that is exactly how Christ approached dying for us.

The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8) knew He was going to win the war against sin and death on the cross. A runner endures hardship for the prize at the finish line. Christ endured the cross and the prize was communion with us!

Jesus was falsely accused, mocked, spit on, beaten, ridiculed, and ultimately crucified. This is not an exhaustive list of all the cruelties He bore on our behalf. (See Matthew’s account and the other Gospels for the full picture.)

He endured it all so that the barrier of sin that separated us from a holy God could be shattered. So that we could have access to God.

Hebrews 12:2 says: “Jesus, the CHAMPION who initiates and perfects our faith, because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” (NLT, emphasis mine)

The love of Christ is just like the sun – “nothing is hidden from its heat” (Psalm 19:6).

Dying on the cross was an outrageous public display of love that still confronts us today.

If you don’t know Christ, how will you respond? His death and resurrection are an invitation to know Him personally. If you desire to know more, this overview is really helpful. Connecting to a Bible-believing church community will help answer your questions.

Followers of Jesus – a steep price was paid for our freedom. Let us respond daily to our Savior’s death and resurrection, so we can stay free.

If you are bound in any way, I pray that the victory of the Cross would become real to you today.

I pray that Jesus, the champion, would arise in you – to overcome every sin, every addiction, and every difficult circumstance.

Let the Champion arise in His Church, that we would fulfill our God-given destiny – to proclaim the good news to the poor, to set the captives free and bring healing to the sick (Luke 4:18).

“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:1)

Because we are in it to win it! I want to run this race with joy, like Jesus.

Photo by eberhard grossgasteiger on Unsplash