Celebration

Yesterday (Sunday) was referred to as Palm Sunday.  Historically this represents the day that Christ entered Jerusalem to the sounds of praise, worship and to a certain degree acceptance and excitement.  That entrance would set in motion a week that would not only include this triumphant entry but also a week of suffering and shame.  The week would culminate outside Jerusalem on a hill called Golgotha where Christ would die for the sins of humanity.  Many churches have an extra atmosphere of excitement on Palm Sunday through the use of dramas and special music.  But in reality every day is a day of celebration for the people of God as we recognize and remember the victory that Christ won for us as He willingly gave His life as a sacrifice for fallen humanity.

Sports fans in America have been involved in the NCAA Basketball Tournament for the past several weeks.  Tonight their will be a champion decided as Kentucky and Kansas match up in the championship game in New Orleans. The past few weeks have found teams and the fans of those teams either in the mode of celebration or in the mode of disappointment.  But as believers in Christ we can live in the spirit of celebration.  Our Champion faced all of the tactics and strategies of the enemy and He conquered each and everyone of them.  Our Champion faced and conquered the temptations of the enemy so that we could have the ability though Christ to overcome the temptations that satan would bring against us.  Our Champion faced the ridicule and rejection of His own people so that we could understand that rejection and ridicule does not have to interfere with our walk with Christ.  Our Champion defeated every foe that came against Him so that we might be able to live our Christian life victoriously.  A few words from an old song declares that we are an "heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, and washed in His blood." 

Let this be a week of reflection and contemplation as we realize the great price that Christ paid for our release and redemption from the power of sin.  Let it also be a week of celebration as we exalt the Savior who was willing to die in our place on that old rugged cross.  He was willing to die so that we could go free and live with a great hope in our Risen Savior.