Remembering to Never Forget

Of the myriad images regarding our salvation, there are poignant times where the distress of Jesus was heightened to such palpable levels, his humanity showing, that he would have given up had he been just like us. Can we but imagine being in the following circumstance, staring at our imminent death, knowing what would happen, and knowing we are, in Jesus’ case, perfectly innocent?

“Then he withdrew from [the disciples] about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done’.”

~Luke 22:41-42 (NRSV)

Cause For Constant Reflection

Though it is cause for constant reflection, we’re frequent upon forgetting. We live in the here-and-now in our relative freedom, most of all loved and accepted by God, because of Jesus’ human and Divine courage. He would not shirk that which we would have.

We can, again, try and imagine the immensity of human and Divine anguish, Jesus taking on both attributes, within the body and mind of the Son of God who would become humanity’s Saviour. Such a reflection is bound to draw us closer to God.

And the more we can reflect on such things, what God went through to bring us our spiritual freedom, the more we redeem the practical competencies of virtue that lay forever unfathomable in a way that they cannot ever be exhausted. The more we reflect over Jesus’ sacrifice and what it means, the more we experience humility, thankfulness, compassion, awe, hope, etc.

The Best Significance Of The Passion Of Jesus

The Bible tells us that Jesus taught the disciples, as they ate the Passover meal together, that he had “eagerly” anticipated that moment (Luke 22:15). He said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19)

The Lord’s Supper is not only a Passover event every Easter, it is an event we celebrate much more regularly through [holy] communion in our church meetings, and indeed should be celebrated each day, at least in our minds. It is us who benefits. The more we remember, the closer we are to God, the more we are blessed.

Remembering to never forget the significance of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice on the cross at Golgotha is our key to unlocking and living the centrality of faith.

When we remember to never forget, bearing it in the front of our minds, and refusing to be distracted, we remain connected to the Spirit of God.

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Remembering to never forget the once-for-eternity sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross—Good Friday—because it’s incomprehensibly good for us—is the commencement of enduring blessing in our lives. It’s good news that payment for our sins has been made, once-for-eternity.

© 2012 S. J. Wickham.