Longing for Jesus

For the last few days I've been reflecting on Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey before he was crucified. The people were shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes! Hosanna!" Through my study, I've read that what they were shouting was more of a request than a declaration. Essentially, they were shouting, "Save us! God save us! You can save us!"


For the last month or so, my heart has been extremely heavy. Sometimes I'm overwhelmed with the darkness of the world in which we live. Murder, hatred, greed, selfish gain and ambition plague every continent in our world. Impure sexuality overtakes television, billboards, music. Little boys and little girls, men and women are bombarded with a million ways to live for their own fleshly desires and deny the God-given freedom available to them through Christ. 


But, He saves! He came to earth, lived a perfect life, died on the cross, and rose again. It is a beautiful mystery. He was delivered over to death to pay for our sins. The glory continued in Jesus being raised to life for our justification, our vindication, to alleviate our condemnation. 


Last week the heaviness in my heart lifted. To be sure, the heaviness in the world still abounds, but my focus is on Jesus. This week my heart longs for Jesus to redeem the world proclaiming, "Save us! God save us! Only you can save us!" Through his death and resurrection he saved me. Now my heart proclaims, "Come, Jesus! We need you! Please come again!" 


I pray that each of you reflect deeply on Jesus' death and resurrection, not only this week, but continually. Let Him go to the deep places of your heart and teach you to long for his return.