An Easter Reflection: Considering Jesus

Reclined in a worn-out heap
Wrestling with the me that needs to flee
To find the fullness of Life…

I hear the Spirit’s voice
Urging me on
Do not grow weary in doing good
Do not let your heart be troubled

Tear-stained eyes look up and out
Do you see what I see, Lord?

Surely He is the God who sees.
Surely my sullen cries are known.

But I ask anyway
To hear the answer that escapes
In the pains of the moment

Lest you grow weary and fainthearted…
Consider Him.

The author and perfecter of your faith
Who for the joy set before Him
Endured the cross, despising the shame
And is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

This wretched moment has been repurposed
As I fix my gaze and focus my thoughts
On Him.

Jesus.

Prince of Peace. King of Kings. Lord of Lords.
The Suffering Servant. The Son of God.

Hosanna, the people cried, as He rode in on a donkey.
Crucify Him, they shouted, as He was led to the cross.

As I wrestle with my own obstinate insufficiencies and crumble under the weight of seemingly uncalled-for plights, freedom is found in consideration of Him who died so I might live.

Consider Jesus!

He’s more than the lovely children’s church narrations.
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things!
Death could not hold Him, alive forevermore.
Reigning.
Glorious.

Consider Jesus!

Full of grace and truth.
The Light of the World.
Who knew no sin yet took on the full weight of the sin of the world
For our sake.
Our Hope. Our Victory.

Consider Jesus!

And arise!
The race is not over yet.
Patient endurance is the call.
The Holy Spirit’s power—perfected in our weakness—is our portion.
And the joy of the Lord is our strength.

Consider Jesus!

Who considered the Cross a joy…

What a mighty God we serve!

Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, 
“I believed, and so I spoke,” 
we also believe, and so we also speak, 
knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus 
will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 

For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people 
it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 

So we do not lose heart. 

Though our outer self is wasting away, 
our inner self is being renewed day by day. 

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us 
an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 
as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. 

For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
- 2 Corinthians 4:13-18 ESV