Convictions, Confessions and the Cross

How can one be sure of having learnt something? It’s when our lives are changed by it. There really is no use knowing truth if we don’t live by it. In the Bible, James, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote a letter in which he said,

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. James 1:23,24

In our life’s journey, there come many points during which we are exposed to truth which beckons us to change. It can be the truth about the way we have been handling finance, the truth about health, the truth about being a parent. These truth-encounters call for change. If one chooses to change in the light of truth, listening to the voice of truth, then one can truly say that transformation is taking place. But how many of us listen to to watch truth but remain unchanged in the face of it? A lesson not lived is a lesson not learnt. No matter how much we know it cognitively.

In Matthew 16, we find Jesus asking his disciples a poignant question. After asking them casually who others thought he was, he asks them,

But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am? Matthew 16:15

They’ve seen Jesus in action, they’ve heard his teachings, they have seen his power and now was the time to process all of that. Who do you say I am. In other words Jesus seems to be saying that we need to go beyond opinions of others, and stuff we thought to be true. It’s time they told him for themselves. “Who do you say I am”. That’s what it’s like to even follow Jesus. It’s to make the choice to follow for ourselves. No one can do it for ourselves.

God doesn’t want us to be mindless drones in our pursuit of him. He does call us to think through our convictions and process them. Jesus said, “I am the truth.” That means our encounters with Jesus calls us to process and make a decision about who He is and what our response is going to be. Most people know Jesus as a great teacher, miracle worker or even a prophet. But by Jesus’ own admission, he is much more than that. He said,

I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

There is an undeniable exclusivity in Jesus’ words. For all those who have been desiring to draw near to God, Jesus says, “I am the way”. For all those searching for truth – a absolute from which all of our definitions of love, justice, morality and goodness can originate, Jesus says, “I am the truth”. And for those of us who are seeking life – a place to belong, be accepted, find purpose and wholeness, he says, “I am the life”. He’s not a signboard pointing to another source. He is the source. And in our pursuit of God, and truth, we will need to answer that question for ourselves – “Who do you say I am?”

If he is just another man who lived in history, then we would treat him as such. Learn about him from texts and appreciate the life that he lived. But that isn’t an option he gives us. Standing at the grave of Lazarus, he declared,

I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. John 11:25

People can say a lot of things while they are alive. But who can predict how things will go after their death. But Jesus backed up his claims by actually rising from the dead and proving that he is who he says he is.

Now the ball is in humanity’s court. The decision that needs to be made. Do we know who he is? The Lord of creation, the lover of our souls, the giver of grace to all who wish to draw near, the one who forgives, heals, restores and redeems our past? All of these realities and longings, the cries of humanity for God to come and make things right again, converge at the cross. Jesus came, bore the pain we were supposed to bear, gave his life as a ransom for our sin so that we wouldn’t be condemned for ever, but have everlasting life in Him.

If we know that He is who He is, then it calls for a change in the direction of our lives. Jesus said

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. Matthew 16:25-27

We live in a world that’s changing. Just yesterday world markets reported a collapse due to the Corona virus scare. We know that at the end of the day our money, our connections, our accomplishments are only temporal pleasures. Jesus’ words are a reminder to us – “Don’t forfeit your soul”. When you do everything, don’t forget this one thing, because it’s the main thing. If we live for ourselves, then we will “lose our life” but real life is found in coming to Jesus and opening our hands, hearts and our minds and letting him be who he is – Lord – over our lives and letting him do what only he can do – give us peace with God, forgiveness of sin and a new life in Him. To deny ourselves means to admit that we are not going to be the rulers of our own lives. i It means to humble ourselves and acknowledge our capacities are limited, but his are unlimited, acknowledging that we are sinners in need of a saviour. Jesus saves.

Today, I ask you to consider who Jesus is, what he has done, and what he offers you. How would you process this truth? Do you need to pray and open your heart to Him? He is waiting for you. Don’t delay.