There are things about the life of Jesus that stand out as the most important events in his life. They are his ministry, his death, his resurrection, and his ascension. Although his birth was important, his baptism was important, his suffering was important, and his teaching was important, God wanted us to make absolutely sure that we understand the real importance of Christ’s life.
Being born is common to all men. Teaching a belief is common to many man who have teaching as a profession or a calling. Fulfilling religious rites, such as a baptism, are common throughout all religions. And as for suffering… well as anyone who has ever been a prisoner of war, or a captive in a concentration camp, or a citizen of an impoverished third world country would say… suffering is all too common.
What is NOT common is coming back from the dead!
What is NOT ordinary is ascending bodily into the sky — alive.
What is NOT normal is a man who can heal ALL disease.
The life of Christ from age zero to thirty is barely relevant; that is why God said very little about it. The communion supper which symbolized his blood and body, now THAT was important. We must celebrate Christ’s existence, Christ’s life, Christ’s example. These are the things that we are to mentally dwell upon.
Paul, and the Gospels make it abundantly clear that THIS is the Good News! This is what we must preach, teach, and focus on. It is spirit and it is life to us to think on these things.
When we think about Christ, and specifically these matters, then we can have hope for our lives as well. He is our example. To put it another way, He is a mirror reflection — a sort of painting back to us of what we should be and do too. We must minister while on earth. We will die one day; some of us even at the hands of evil sinners. We will be resurrected on day. And we will — in the twinkling of an eye — rise up to meet him in the sky one day; some of us will be alive too when that happens.
It is promised that Christ will come back. It is promised that we will come back too. It is promised that we have mansions in heaven. It is promised to us that HE is overseeing the construction of those estates even now.
Can any other other religious hero make such a claim? Or give such promises of reward? God recorded for us EXACTLY what we need to know to have hope and faith. If you wish to increase in both, then take more time to ‘think on these things’ which pertain to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Original Copyright: © Anthony J. Massotti Th.M., Th.M. 9/10/2000