WHY THE WORLD NEEDS A SAVIOR
As we move through “Holy Week”, I think it’s critically important to reflect on what we believe and why Easter is so important to us as Christians. On Palm Sunday, the beginning of the week, we often sing “Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!” This is a reference to what the people exclaimed when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, but it is also symbolic of what we read in Psalms 118:25, “Save us, we pray, O Lord!” The real question is whether or not each of us understands what we need saving from.
I would submit the first thing we need saving from is ourselves. In today’s world of social media and selfies, our culture has become overly obsessed with self. We strive for self-confidence, self-reliance, self-esteem, self-image, and self-love, just to name a few. However, in Ephesians 4:22-24, Paul encourages us to “throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.” When we invite Jesus into our hearts and strive to live according to His example, we can see the truth of 2 Corinthians 5:17 that tells us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
We also need saving from the daily temptation of sin. The world around us has an abundance of evil, darkness, and distractions. Yet, Paul tells us that we do not need to attempt to fight Satan in our own strength. In Ephesians 6:10, we read, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”
Finally, we need saving from the clutches of death. On Easter Sunday, Jesus rose from the dead and conquered the grave, once and for all, giving humanity the opportunity to spend eternity with Him. This incredible act of sacrifice is the focus of John 3:16, which says “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.”
As we go through this week, I would encourage each of us to do three things. First, reflect on what Jesus has done for us and thank Him for the free gift of salvation He’s given us. Second, seek His forgiveness for any area of our lives where we may have fallen short in our daily walk with Him. Most importantly, invite someone to Church with you on Easter Sunday so they have an opportunity to hear the message of salvation and can invite Jesus Christ to save them from their sins.
