While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, “What do you think about the Christ?” Matthew 22:41
Dear Lord Jesus, it’s Wednesday of Holy Week. Pondering the collage of encounters and the myriad of things you said just before your arrest, the main thing becomes my main concern all over again.
The question you directed to Pharisees, you still put before me. “What do you think about the Christ?” The obvious? Jesus, you’ve never asked a single question to be informed. You know quite well when I think about you and what I think about you. That question’s for my benefit, and there’s simply no more important query in all of life for me to wrestle with constantly.
What do I think about you, Jesus? Let me state something else that’s obvious… you know the difference between what I’ve been taught and what I treasure—the distance between and an informed mind and an enflamed heart. But as far as I know my heart, here’s what’s most clear and precious to me about you. I’m so thankful that you are God and that I’m a mere man. I would despair if you were anything less and I am weary of trying to be more. I’m thrilled to celebrate you as the creator, sustainer and restorer of all things. I’ve only come to see the world with your eyes in the last several years.
I absolutely savor knowing you as the second Adam—my substitute in death and in life. You exhausted God’s judgment against my sin on the cross, but you also lived a life of perfect obedience for me. You’re my complete forgiveness and my everlasting righteousness before the Father. That’s a bold affirmation, but I humbly stake my life and my death upon what you’ve done for me.
Jesus, there’s so much more I could say, but I rest today in this one final thought. Because the gospel is true, I’m much more in awe of what you think about me than I’m impressed with what I think about you. You’re the One who both knows me the best and loves me the most. With stammering yammering lips, I dare speak of a glory and grace I’ve only begun to understand. So very Amen, I pray, in your holy and loving name.