Following King Jesus
Week 42: The King’s Fame

He got up and departed from there to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it, but he could not escape notice. Instead, immediately after hearing about him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit came and fell at his feet. {Mark 7:24-25}

So far in our study through chapter 7 of the gospel of Mark, Jesus had been doing theological battle with the Pharisees and Scribes. You see, they were more concerned with their appearance before other people. They would put on an outward show in order to appear religious and self-righteous.

But Jesus exposes the heart of God who is able to see past the exterior and is more concerned with the heart. In other words, you can look righteous on the outside, but God can see the heart where our motives and intentions lie.

After openly rebuking the religious leaders, Jesus turns his attention to the crowd to teach them this most important lesson about how we are not defiled by what we consume but rather by what bubbles out from our hearts. That is the source of our sin and brokenness which is why Jesus has come to give us a new heart.

Now we find ourselves with Jesus getting up and departing with much motivation and determination heading to a new city called Tyre.

Tyre is approximately 40 miles from the Sea of Galilee. It’s a pagan city made up predominantly of Gentile people. But Jesus’ message of Good News is for all people, both Jew and Gentile. We’ll focus a little more on this soon.

Today, I want to turn our attention to what happens to Jesus once he enters Tyre. This is a city that as far as we can tell in the gospel of Mark he has yet to travel to.

Not only that but it is a world apart, not just by distance but in ideologies and social practices compared to the region of Galilee, where Jesus has done much of his ministry thus far. 

And yet, in a world before email, social media, and the internet, people have heard about Jesus even there. His reputation precedes him. So much so that he cannot escape the needy crowds pressing up against him in search of a miracle.

Today we’re reading Mark 7 and honing in on verses 24 and 25…

He got up and departed from there to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it, but he could not escape notice. Instead, immediately after hearing about him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit came and fell at his feet. {Mark 7:24-25}

As I was studying the passage this week, a few words lept off the pages at me. First I noticed how Jesus enters this city and goes to a home and is hoping that no one notices. But the author tells us that “he could not escape notice.” It’s impossible for Jesus to go unnoticed anywhere that he goes. 

This is absolutely fascinating to me. How did people know? There was no photography, magazines, or paparazzi to post his picture on TMZ. But people just knew.

His fame is spreading. His authoritative teaching, his miraculous touch, his gentle and tender demeanor has left a magnetic impression on the hearts of people who are hungering for more. His name is synonymous with the Kingdom of God on earth as he brings a slice of heaven to the brokenness of the world.

If you’re taking notes, by way of application…

1: Our job is to make Jesus’ name famous.

More than we care to spread our fame and grow our clout. More than making the name of a church or non-profit famous, our job is to make Jesus famous. I’m not just talking about making sure people know his name. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who has never head the name Jesus before.

But what I mean is making him famous by showing the attractiveness and beauty and majesty of who King Jesus is. That they might truly know Jesus with the hopes that they would surrender to him.

But the question is: How? How can we make the name of Jesus famous? How can we be sure to be positive contributors to the mission of God, which is the redemption of mankind through Jesus? If you’re taking notes, here’s a few practical ways we can make Jesus famous…

A: With the truth of Jesus.

We live in a world where a common belief that is regurgitated is that there are multiple truths and multiple avenues to heaven, nirvana, or the afterlife. In other words, there are many paths to God. That all religions basically teach the same thing. 

But this runs contrary to what Jesus said of himself. Look at the exclusive claim Jesus makes in the gospel of John…

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” {John 14:6}

The truth of Jesus is incredibly exclusive while simultaneously being incredibly inclusive. The truth of Jesus is that there is only one way and under one name by which we can be saved. But the truth of Jesus is also that salvation is available to anyone and everyone who is willing to call on his name. 

This truth runs right at the face of a world that holds a plethora of worldviews and ideologies. Because of this, the truth of Jesus will inevitably lead to his fame. He does not become known and renowned if he becomes just one of many philosophies. But if he stands as the singular way, truth, and life, he gets the glory that is owed him.

We can also make Jesus’ name famous…

B: With the message of Jesus.

What was the message of Jesus? That we are incredibly sinful and broken people. And that apart from divine intervention, we’re heading to an eternity separated from God. But God is so rich in mercy and love that he stepped in the gap between our sin and his holiness. 

He sent Jesus, God in flesh, who loved a perfect and sinless life, died in the place of guilty sinners, and rose from the grave once and for all conquering Satan, sin, and death.

And now for all who put their faith in Jesus, we can have forgiveness of sin, a new life, and eternity with the Father.

By the way, if you’re here today and have never put your faith in Jesus, just know that this is at the core of God’s heart: For you to know Jesus and accept God’s free gift of grace.

THIS is the message that we want to share to a lost and dying world. It is a message of hope. It is a message of love. This is why it is called the Good News. We make Jesus’ name famous when we stick to the message that he came to share and the mission he came to accomplish.

Not only do we share the truth of Jesus and the message of Jesus. But if we’re going to make Jesus famous, then when we do, we do so…

C: With the attitude of Jesus.

Not only are we to tell the truth of Jesus and the message of Jesus, but as we do we are to do so with the same compassion and tenderness of Jesus. 

If there’s anything we’ve been able to see as we’ve studied the life of Jesus, we’re able to see his immense amount of compassion towards others. He serves others. He extends mercy. He patiently teaches and instructs.

In fact, I believe that many times people don’t want to hear the truth or the message of Jesus because the delivery of the message doesn’t reflect the attitude of Jesus. But if we live as Jesus lived, and serve as Jesus served, and extend compassion and understanding as Jesus did, who wouldn’t want to listen to that message?

Jesus was authentic. Who he was in the synagogue on a Saturday morning, was the same person who was on the boat with his disciples. When we lead lives that have been authentically transformed by Jesus, and we reflect that authenticity in how we live, that adds a layer of reliability and receptivity to our message about him.

But if you have a bad attitude, gossip all the time, you have a horrible work ethic, your speech sounds more like the world, then how could we possibly expect to have the truth and message of Jesus be received when it’s coming through someone who does not reflect the attitude of Christ?

So our job is to make Jesus famous. We do with the truth of Jesus, with the message of Jesus, and with an attitude that mimics the Messiah we’ve surrendered all to. 

Jesus enters the town of Tyre. Tries to go unnoticed. But his name has become famous and people are hungering after him. Then the author turns our attention specifically to one woman who has a spiritually oppressed daughter. We read…

Instead, immediately after hearing about him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit came and fell at his feet. {Mark 7:25}

What jumped out at me here in this verse is that fact that she comes to Jesus “after hearing about him.” Someway, somehow she had heard about Jesus. She heard about someone who had power and could bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth and restore what is broken.

So again, how did she hear about Jesus in a world without text messages and the internet? Maybe one of her family members had travelled to Galilee and saw Jesus heal the woman with the issue of blood. Maybe her best friend was among the 15,000+ people who ate the miraculous fish and bread Jesus multiplied.

But somehow she heard. How would she know about Jesus if she had not heard about Jesus? It’s the same for our friends, family, and neighbors who do not know Jesus and who do not have a genuine walk and relationship with the King. So by way of application…

2: Our neighbors need to hear about Jesus.

Your neighbor is whoever is closest to you. It’s all about proximity. This means your neighbor can potentially be related to you or not. Your neighbor might live in your building or she might take the same bus you do.

Your neighbor might work where you work or shop at the same supermarket. And here’s what they need: They need to hear about Jesus. The only way our neighbors can hear about the life-giving, life-transforming power of Jesus is if someone tells them.

Look at what Paul says in Romans 10…

How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? {Romans 10:14}

Our neighbors greatest need is their brokenness and sin. It can only be met through Jesus. But the only way they can know about how that need can be met through Jesus is if they hear about his goodness and provision through someone. 

How can they hear about Jesus? Well they need a preacher. Who is that preacher? Might I suggest that perhaps it’s you. What if God is calling you to be a messenger of good news to your friends, family, and neighbors?

How can our neighbors hear about Jesus? Here’s a couple ways you can partner with God in heralding the Good News…

A: You can tell them.

As the Lord provides opportunities and as the Holy Spirit leads, you open your mouth and you share what we mentioned earlier: the truth of Jesus and the message of Jesus with the attitude of Jesus.

I came across this series of videos on TikTok from a young lady who recently gave her life to Christ. She was so on fire for the gospel that she set out a goal to share the gospel to at least one person everyday for 45 days.

I was so excited to see her passion and zeal to see her neighbors come to know Jesus by sharing the gospel. She was super sweet and nice. She didn’t stand on a soapbox or yell at people. 

She would just approach the teller at the bank and say: “Hey, by the way do you know about Jesus?” Or she would talk to the person next to her as she pumped gas: “Have you ever heard the gospel? Can I share it with you?”

Don’t underestimate the power of the gospel. The power is in the gospel, not in the vessel or the delivery. So you can simply tell people and share the gospel. Secondly…

B: You can share your story. 

You have a story you can share about how Jesus changed your life forever. Your life and the journey God has you on is one of the greatest apologetics and evidence for the gospel. 

If you’re sharing your story with someone, chances are there is a relationship there. Maybe it’s someone you know well from work. Maybe it’s a good friend who has been having spiritual questions.

Here’s a simple formula you can follow to share your story. You can begin with this: Before I met Christ I was… But after I met Jesus he did…

It might be something like: Before I met Jesus I was lonely, depressed, I was addicted, or I was so religious. But after I met Jesus he gave me new desires, new passions, a renewed purpose. He showed me my brokenness and sin but he forgave them all on the cross.

There is something special and powerful about sharing your story that can help showcase Jesus to our neighbors. And thirdly, a practical thing you can do…

C: You can invite them.

A simple way you can introduce your neighbors to Jesus is through the power of an invite. You can invite them to come to church with you. You can invite them to an event, a Bible study, or LifeGroup.

Here’s my promise to you. If you invite your friends, family, and neighbors to church, I will be sure to teach directly from the Bible and to share the good news of the gospel each and every single week.

Maybe you struggle to put the words together or you lack confidence, then you can simply invite them to church. And when you do, make sure you greet them at the door. Make sure you sit next to them and help make them feel welcomed.

Church, let’s make sure that we’re creating an environment where our neighbors, friends, and family feel welcomed. Let’s remove all the distractions for them so that when the gospel is presented, the Holy Spirit can woo them to the Father’s heart.

So, you can tell them. You can share your story. You can invite them. Now, why do we do all this? Why do we make Jesus famous? Why do we desire for our neighbors to hear about Jesus? It’s for this…

3: Our hope is that they fall in surrender to Jesus.

This woman in Mark chapter 7 heard about Jesus. She is broken, she is needy, and she is desperate. So she makes her way to Jesus and look at what she does…

Instead, immediately after hearing about him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit came and fell at his feet. {Mark 7:25}

She runs and falls at the feet of Jesus. As a sign of humility and desperation, she falls in surrender before the King.

There’s an interesting conversation that happens with Jesus and this woman which we’ll get to next week. You’re not going to want to miss it because what he says would classify as one of the difficult sayings of Jesus.

But don’t miss this. The woman is desperate. She’s tried all else. Her daughter is spiritually under attack. Who else can she turn to except Jesus.

This is our hope and desire for our friends, family, and neighbors. That they would come and fall prostrate before the King. That they would submit to his Kingdom and surrender to his will. That they would accept his salvation by faith and that they would live for him.

If you’re here today and you haven’t surrendered to Jesus; if you have not repented of your sin and accepted the free gift of salvation through his death on the cross and his conquering of the grave, then this is my hope for you. That you would turn away from your sin, away from the world, away from false idols, and turn to the One true God and put your faith in Christ.

This is our hope for our neighbors. So we make Jesus famous: with the truth of Jesus, the message of Jesus, with the attitude of Jesus. 

Our neighbors need to hear about Jesus. But how can they hear of him without a messenger? So we tell them the good news of the gospel. We share our story as evidence of a living God who continues to redeem and restore. We invite them so they can experience a gospel community and hear Jesus preached.

All with the hope that they fall in submission, surrender, and worship of King Jesus.

Following King Jesus
Week 41: The King’s Motivation

Jesus is a man on a mission. The God man, Jesus Christ, the Messiah is on a mission to redeem and ransom mankind. Inevitably death is what is awaiting him. Not only death - but the conquering of death and the defeat of sin and Satan.

So far much of Jesus’ ministry has taking place predominantly among Jewish people in Jewish towns. I remind you guys that Jesus was born to Jewish parents and was raised among Jewish practices and traditions. At the launch of his ministry, he is firstly serving the lost sheep of Israel. 

Throughout the Scripture we’re able to trace through the narrative of history that redemption would come about through an elect group of people, the nation of Israel.

In the minds of many of the Jewish people, especially the religious leaders, there was the prominent thought that, first, the salvation to be delivered from a Jewish Messiah would be solely for the Jewish people.

Secondly, the thinking was also wrapped up in this salvation being of a political persuasion. In other words, that the kingdom this Messiah would establish would be an earthly one setting the nation up to be a world power not to be reckoned with.

Yet here comes Jesus rocking the boat on multiple fronts. First of all, his Kingdom is not from this world. He is establishing a greater Kingdom, the Kingdom of God. One that is established with righteousness, justice, and mercy. 

Additionally, while up until now much of his ministry has been in Jewish towns and among Jewish people, Jesus will really rock the religious world of his ethnic tribe when he expands his reach. This is where we find ourselves in today’s passage.

We’ve been working our way through the gospel of Mark. It’s the shortest and is dated the earliest of the four gospels as the author is in a hurry to get the greatest news ever told out into the world.

Mark was a ministry companion of the Apostle Peter and compiled his experiences into the historical document we hold in our hands which carries his name.

Most recently in our study, Jesus has tackled the hypocrisy, religiosity, and narrow mindedness of the religious leaders of his day. He boldly proclaimed the fact that what God cares about is the condition of our heart, not so much what you see on the outside. He showed us that sin originates within the heart. Which is, by the way, why Jesus has come. To give us a new heart.

As we examine this passage today, we’ll see Jesus move out of Jewish territory and into a Gentile city as the good news of the King’s arrival continues to spread. Let’s begin by reading Mark 7:24-25…

24 He got up and departed from there to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it, but he could not escape notice. 25 Instead, immediately after hearing about him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit came and fell at his feet. {Mark 7:24-25}

Jesus transitions from openly rebuking the religious leaders to addressing the crowd. Then the disciples scratch their heads and ask for clarification from his teaching to the crowd. And now his mission continues onward to a new city.

Verse 24 tells us that Jesus “got up and departed”. There is intentionality, motivation, and determination from the King to go to this city to bring and demonstrate the Kingdom of God.

Jesus was an incredibly hard worker and he utilized every waking moment he could in order to be about his Father’s business. People have made many accusations of Jesus, but one thing he is not is lazy. 

In fact, as you know, much of his ministry happened in the region of Galilee. But he gets us and departs to Tyre which is an almost forty mile journey from the Sea of Galilee. He does this trek on foot. No Uber. No electric bicycle. No train or bus.

Jesus' time is limited but he has an incredibly important message to share in the little time he has left. So with much determination and motivation he makes his way to a new city.

We’ll talk a little more about this next week but know that Tyre is a pagan city of Gentile people. They were a polytheistic and idolatrous nation. But yet Jesus, a Jewish rabbi, is heading to this dark place with a gospel message that would be good news even for them.

But for this week, the words that jumped out at me were “he got up and departed.” Jesus is incredibly motivated, willing to put in the hard work to accomplish his Father’s mission. 

This led me to ask the question: How motivated are we to accomplish God’s purposes for the limited time He’s allotted us? We too have a limited amount of time given us. So here’s what you need to know…

1: The King is looking for motivated people.

The King is looking for motivated people willing to obey his marching orders and steward their time for the sake and purposes of God. Can that be said of you?

How often are we so quick to lose motivation especially when it comes to the things of God? We’re quick to be motivated for lesser things, but when it comes to accomplishing Kingdom things, all of a sudden we’re too tired, we drag our feet, or lack the desire to do so.

Family, we have one life to live on this side of eternity. We’ve been entrusted with the greatest message known to mankind. We’ve tasted and seen the Lord’s goodness. We’ve been given the gospel to steward and propagate. You’d be hard pressed to find something more valuable to give your life to.

Yet so often our motivation levels for this most important calling is low. You can tell this by our lack of desire to get into the Word of God. You can tell this by how challenged we are to live generously and instead hold on to our material things. You can tell this by how slow we are to stop the things that break God’s heart and instead please our flesh.

You can tell this by how difficult it is to get up on a Sunday to worship the King that ransomed our souls with fellow saints and instead chose to sit at the altar of Netflix.

But here is Jesus. And perhaps no one worked harder than Jesus for the sake of the Kingdom. He’s 100% man and 100% God. In the flesh, he was tired, he had pain, he was battling priorities and desires. But yet he set his face toward Tyre. He got up and departed.

There will be times when we lack motivation to do what God asks of us. Because we’re incredibly sinful people, we muster the energy to go to a party, to catch a sports game, to wake up at 6am to go to work for 8 or 10 hours. But when it comes to the things of God, we lack the energy and desire to pursue him.

Perhaps this is why Paul would give us this encouragement in his letter to the Corinthians. Perhaps you’ve read this verse in the past but you’ve never read it through this lens. He writes…

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. {1 Corinthians 15:58}

He says that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. Our working for God and our pursuit of God is not in vain. But notice the language he uses leading up to that part. He says to be steadfast, immovable, and to excel in the Lord’s word. Why would he use that language?

Well, it must mean that in our pursuit of God and in our attempt to accomplish his purposes, Paul knew that we would lose motivation. We would be tempted to give up or give in. We would grow tired and succumb to laziness.

So he motivates us, almost like a fitness trainer motivates his trainee to do one more push up, to do one more squat. Don’t give up. Don’t lose motivation. This holy word is not in vain. This holy work is worth it. 

Maybe you’re here today and you feel like this. You feel like you lack motivation. You need the encouragement or the push toward accomplishing that word God is calling you to.

Well I want to give you three tools to help you build determination and motivation around God’s purposes for your life. First is this…

A: View your life as a gift from God to be stewarded for the glory of God.

This runs at the face of the lie that you are at the center of your world. The modern thinking of our day and age is that we are at the center of the universe. That our lives exist for our own enjoyment and pleasure.

The result of that thinking is that we believe we get the glory. So we parade ourselves, worship at the altar of self, and pursue that which makes us happy no matter if it comes at the cost of displeasing God or others.

But a biblical worldview would have you understand that you don’t exist to give yourself glory. Actually your life is a gift from God to be stewarded for the glory of God. Even Jesus understood this of himself and would say this in the gospel of John…

For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. {John 6:38}

Jesus came from heaven not to do what he wanted, or to accomplish his own plans and purposes, but to accomplish the will of God. Can the same be said of you? Do you view your life as a gift from God? Not only as a gift from God, but as a gift to be stewarded towards His plans and purposes for His glory?

Paul writes in Romans…

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen. {Romans 11:36}

You are not here by mistake. Your life is an incredible gift. If you lack motivation in your walk with Christ, remind yourself that this life you have is a gift from God. You only get one life. And if you truly want to discover purpose and satisfaction, it will not come from finding glory in yourself. It comes from stewarding this life God has given you for His glory.

The next tool to help you find motivation to accomplish God’s purposes in your life is this…
B: Create rhythms around the things that are most important.

You prioritize the things that are most important to you. I like to say it this way: You have time for whatever you want to have time for. But yet, so often we replace some of the most important things - like the motivation to pursue our God given purpose and live for His glory - for lesser things.

For example, if our lives are gifts from God to be stewarded for His glory, then certainly that would mean that we should make a priority of the things He’s left us in order to know Him more. 

He’s left us the Scripture so we could hear from Him. He’s left us the gift of prayer so we can communicate with Him. He’s left us the gift of the church so that we can be sanctified through our relationships. He’s given us the gift of life to serve others and to declare the gospel.

If these are gifts God’s given us to help us fulfill His purpose for His glory, then how can we remain motivated in keeping the most important things front and center? We need to create rhythms around the things that are most important.

Jesus teaches this in the gospel of Matthew…

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. {Matthew 6:33}

Jesus gives us a lesson on priorities. If our life is a gift from God for the glory of God, then we need to create rhythms and prioritize that which will help us be about the Kingdom of God.

That means that if God has given me the gift of the local church, with all her imperfections and flaws, then I’m going to make a priority of contributing and receiving from her. If God has given me the gift of His Word - an opportunity to hear from Him and know His heart - then I’m going to make a priority of reading His Word.

Sometimes we lack motivation to accomplish God’s purposes and partake in these gifts He’s given us. But if we have rhythms established, even in those moments where we lack the motivation, the habit will help push us through the hump.

Hopefully you have a rhythm of brushing your teeth. Whether you feel like it or not, whether you got up early or late, your rhythm kicks in and you’re on autopilot - you brush your teeth.

For those of you that work, you have a rhythm of the time to wake up, having your clothes ready, you even know what time the train will roll in to make it on time. In fact, sometimes that rhythm is so strong that even on a day off you might get up at the time you wake up everyday or travel the way you would without even thinking about it.

In our walk with Christ and in our pursuit of God’s purposes for our lives, we’re going to create rhythms to help us prioritize what is most important. Those rhythms will help us push through moments when we might lack motivation. It will help us, like the Apostle Paul said, be steadfast, immovable and excelling in the Lord’s work.

Lastly, since the King is looking for motivated people, then in our pursuit of finding motivation to pursue God’s will, we’re going to…

C: Seek out opportunities to be on mission wherever you are

Most of us understand that God has given us a mission. The mission is the advancement of His Kingdom through the good news of the gospel. But many times we lack motivation because we think that this is something we need to do in addition to everything else we’ve got going on.

Most of us live incredibly busy lives. You have work deadlines, meetings, responsibilities, kids, grandkids, family, chores, and more. We often look at living an on-mission life as an additional thing to add to our already busy schedule. 

Well, don’t view it as an either or but as a both and. You can be on-mission as you work. You can be on-mission as you workout at the gym. You can be on-mission as you go grocery shopping. You can be on-mission as you’re in school.

In fact, allow me to show you something you may not know. We all know the “Great Commission”. It’s among the last words Jesus shares with the disciples before he ascends into heaven after his resurrection. It says this…

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit… {Matthew 28:19}

The word that is translated “go” is the Greek word poreuomai (por-yoo'-om-ahee) and it means: to go, to proceed, to travel, to journey. 

In other words, Jesus is saying, “As you go, as you travel, make disciples…” As you go to the grocery store, be on the lookout and seek opportunities to be on-mission. As you go to work, be attentive to how God might use you to show His goodness and to declare the Good news.

So here’s a prayer you might want to pray before you leave the house, or while you're on the train or bus commuting to work: “Lord, help me be sensitive to your Spirit and see where you are already at work. Give me opportunities to be the light of Christ in dark places.”

That is a dangerous prayer that might just change the way you view your workplace or school and might give you opportunities to be used by God to declare a message of hope and forgiveness to a lost and dying world. It begins by seeking opportunities to be on mission wherever you are. 

Jesus got up and departed. He was motivated and determined to go to a lost, pagan, and God-less city in order to bring the Kingdom of God to those people. Because God loves the people there too.

It reminds me of another time when Jesus was determined. It was when Jesus set his face towards the cross of calvary. Our sinfulness and rebellion destroyed our relationship with God. But God set into motion a plan in order to redeem his beloved back to himself.

It involved the sinless Son of God to endure the most gruesome and painful of deaths in the place of guilty sinners. Jesus knew that His life would come to this. He knew the pain he would have to endure. He understood the rejection he would experience.

But yet he was determined to endure the cross out of his great love for you and me. In the Garden of Gethsemane he prayed to the Father: Not my will but yours.

If it were you and me, we might pray: Lord do my will please. My will is to not endure this. Infact, my will is to be apathetic, lazy, and unbothered in my faith.

But Jesus was motivated. He was motivated by love. He was motivated by pursuing the will of the Father. Jesus was impaled unto a cross. The weight of our sin was placed on him. Every lash, scar, and beating meant for us. But instead Jesus endured it and died.

They placed him in a tomb where he lay for three days. On Sunday morning, the King would conquer the grave, completing God’s atoning work. So that now all who call on the name of Jesus, all who put their faith in his finished work, can experience the forgiveness of sin, new life, and our eternity secured.

Once we experience this great redemption, we’re called to, with great motivation, pursue the will of God. Because we understand that this newfound life is a gift from God to be stewarded for His Kingdom and His glory.

So we prioritize Jesus. We seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness. And we follow in the footsteps of Jesus in our going as we show and share the love of God found in Christ Jesus.