Passion Week Thoughts (Quite General)...

There’s no doubt that the cross is the centerpiece of God’s glory. Because of the crucifixion, sin can’t condemn us! Romans 8:1 confirms that “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 5:2 shouts, “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”And Galatians 6:14 exclaims, “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

And the empty tomb? Simply put, it is the culmination of God’s power! Because of the resurrection, sin can’t control us. Romans 6:9-12 boldly asserts, “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.”

Now think about Heaven’s throne. It’s the climax of God’s plan where one day we will gather and witness endless worship of the Lamb by every nation, tribe, and tongue to the glory of God the Father. There, sin won’t even contaminate us. As Revelation 22:3 proclaims, “No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.” John describes this scene even more vividly in Revelation 5:11-14 when he writes, “Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!’ And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!’ And the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ and the elders fell down and worshiped.”

Ah, the cross, the tomb, and the throne! How amazing that the glory of his suffering and the glory of his victory will bring us to the glory of the worship of his name (Phil 2:5-11)!