Title Imitation of Christ (Hebrews 12:3)
Content ‘Thinking’ is important in life. Because our thoughts change our lives. People often call the 21st century ‘2F’, but they are Fashion and Feeling. It is a time of feeling, not of thinking. In the words of young people, ‘whatever you write’ is what you do ‘whatever you write’. What will happen to that life, community, and nation if I just act according to my feelings without consideration for the reason, cause, purpose, or other person? In difficult times like now, we need to think and speak more deeply. “Think in your troubled days!”
think deeply about jesus
In the text, the writer of Hebrews says: “Brothers, contemplate Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our faith” (Hebrews 3:1). The first thing a Christian must do above all else is to ponder Jesus. Wherever you are, what you do, and whatever the circumstances, first, focus and keep thinking of Jesus.
How many times a week and how many hours do you think of Jesus? A week is 168 hours, of which one hour a week, how can one be called a Christian only by thinking of Jesus? How can I receive God's guidance when I can't concentrate for even an hour and am filled with various thoughts? If you think that you will be blessed by praying, “God, bless me,” when you occasionally think of it with a heart full of worldly things. no. We must first ponder Jesus.
Who is Jesus? The author describes it in two words. Apostle and High Priest. Apostle literally means “one who was sent” (Apostolos). Jesus was originally sent by God as a human being to save mankind. He forsaken the glory of heaven and became a human being. That is, he became incarnate. He is also a 'high priest'. A priest is a mediator between a holy God and sinners. When Jesus gave His body on the cross for the sins of mankind, He Himself became the atonement and high priest at the same time. Therefore, the Apostle and the High Priest can be replaced with the “Incarnation” and the “Cross”. The incarnation of Jesus is his humility and humility. In fact, if we can humble ourselves and be humble, 90% of the conflicts and unhappiness we are experiencing today will be resolved. The remaining 10%, the factors of conflict and unhappiness that cannot be helped by human strength, are resolved by the power of love and the power of the cross. So, think deeply about Jesus.
It's a hard week, live like this
In fact, usually, we are so driven by daily life that we do not think deeply about Jesus. That is why the leaders of the early church set the season of thinking deeply about the cross of Jesus during the year. It is Jesus Passion Week (April 14-19). We want to think more deeply about the cross of Jesus than ever before and live according to the heart of Jesus, the spirit of Jesus, and the truth of Jesus. During the Holy Week, we must live as follows: (1) Meditation on Jesus' suffering and His character. (2) Self-examination and repentance. (3) Self-control and service to our neighbors. In a word, it is the season to ponder and imitate Christ.