Photo by Nicolas Moscarda on Unsplash 

Dear Followers in Faith,

I love the “car trip” now. But when I was a kid in Arizona, I dreaded them. Especially when we needed to drive the interminable distance between home in Tucson and friends in Phoenix – 220 miles, roundtrip, through nothingness, without phones, movies, even cassette tapes! These trips were “UGH!!!”

Today is Passion/Palm Sunday – near Lent’s end. Today we remember the distance Jesus went to fulfill His Father’s desire to redeem His creation. How far? A distance not measured in miles but, in glory to shame & agony and back to glory. Jesus, “who, though He was in the form of God” (Philippians 2:6) gave it all up, becoming a servant “born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). He traveled from His glorious throne to the place where people mocked and beat Him – shouting “Crucify, crucify Him!” (Luke 23:21)

The almighty Son of God submitted Himself to earthly authorities. He carried His cross from Pilate’s palace – past hostile crowds – to the top of Mount Calvary. Then, “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”(Philippians 2:8) He could’ve used His almighty powers to bring immediate judgment on His torturers. But He endured suffering and death to redeem His Father’s creation. And rising to new life, He defeated the power of death – granting eternal life to all who confess His name.

Then, mission accomplished, He returned to His Father. His Father “highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name” (Philippians 2:9). His Father restored His Son’s to glory so “every knee should bow, in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:10-11). Jesus has completed the roundtrip for our salvation.

Let’s not forget how far God went to bring us into His presence once again. He went the distance – from the glory of heaven to suffering, death, and resurrection and back to the glory of heaven. Thanks be to God for His infinite grace and mercy!

                                                               In His Love,

                                                               Pastor Jim