“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:14-17
Dear HBIC Family,
This week, we will wrap up our Remembrance Series, in which we’ve been learning more about how God has been revealed to us. The first half of our series was before Lent, and our focus was how God has been revealed in the Old Testament. After Easter, our focus has been on how God has been revealed in the New Testament. While it is easy for us to forget, or to keep our eyes looking down and our hearts wandering all around, we are called to remember by looking back on who God has been and by looking up and holding on to who Jesus is.
We worship, serve, and live for a God who wants to be known. We are greatly blessed that God is known not only through the Scriptures, but by also showing up in our lives. This series has taught us to remember:
- Who God is: Yahweh, the God who is, was, will be, and is with us
- What God has Done: Abram’s Call/Our Call
- When God has Saved Us: Noah’s covenant/Nicodemus and being born again
- Why God has Saved Us: God loves us and chose us
- Where God has Saved Us: Red Sea Road/Calvary
- How God has Saved Us: God’s great love and power
On Sunday we’ll be concluding this Remembrance series by returning to the second half of Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus. The heart of this passage is perhaps Jesus’ most famous set of words reminding us all that God so loved the world, that he gave his Son Jesus, that whosoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life. To prepare for this week’s services, I invite you to read and meditate on John 3:14-21. As you reflect, I would like to ask you to focus on the following questions:
What does Jesus say is the significance of him being lifted up?
Why is it important to remember that Jesus was given not just for you, but for the world?
Belief in Jesus impacts us for eternity. How is it impacting you today?
How has Jesus brought light into your world and into your life?
How is God calling you to live by his truth today?
Today, we, as the global and historic church of Christ, celebrate Ascension Day. On this day we join with saints of old and followers of Christ today to give thanks to God for Jesus and his return to heaven. Ascension Day reminds us that the work of Jesus on earth has been done. It teaches us that Jesus now sits at the right hand of God, mediating on our behalf. It calls us to give thanks for the Holy Spirit coming down and the Body of Christ being birthed and empowered. Ascension Day is also our chance to remember that Jesus is working on heaven until it’s perfect for us, and that he will come back again, just as he said.
Today and every day, let us praise God for his great love. Let us rejoice, sisters and brothers, for our God has so loved us. Let us worship God for his great love for us today. And let our lives be a living sacrifice, for our God promises to love us for all of eternity!
God bless you all.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Hank (John 3:14-21)