Clean Slate

Black Friday always causes me to take time for great reflection. I think about how Jesus died on the Cross for my sins; the sin of yelling at the driver in front of me (Matthew 5:22); the sin of losing my temper at my husband (Proverbs 29:11); the sin of my language (Ephesians 4:29)…and the list (unfortunately) goes on. Jesus died a horrific death, sacrificed His Life, for that? Talk about humbling and regret and remorse.
Then the Good News that comes to me on Sunday, Easter, Resurrection Day, that while Jesus died for my ridiculous, dumb little sins; He arose again. Another faithful, humbling reminder that because He overcame death, I can surely overcome calling the driver that cut me off an ‘idiot’, or cursing when I don’t get my way, or…
And I think about the three day wait between His death and Resurrection, and how hopeless that must have seemed to His disciples, especially since they didn’t know of the tremendous miracle that was going to take place on Sunday. It is another humbling reminder that no matter my sin that placed Him on that Cross; nothing will ever make Him stop loving me. Peter, Jesus’ best friend, the one who His foundation would rest on (Matthew 16:18), fell asleep when Jesus needed him most (Matthew 26:40, 44, Mark 14:37, 40, Luke 22:46)and denied Him three times before His death (Matthew 26:70, 72, 74, Mark 16:68, 70-71, Luke 22:57-58, 60, John 18:17, 25-27), was specifically called out when Jesus arose. The angel told the women at the empty tomb ‘Go tell Peter’ (Mark 16:7). Jesus appeared to Peter personally before the other disciples (Luke 24:33, 1 Corinthians 15:3-6). He wanted Peter, who had to be full of remorse, regret, sorrow, self-hatred…to know that he was forgiven; his sin had vanished. Jesus died on the Cross for Peter, and He died for you and me. Our sins are gone, just like Peter’s; and we are forgiven, just like Peter.
Maybe you don’t feel the same bond between you and Jesus, which He shared with Peter. But that same bond does exist; at least He wants it to (Romans 5:8, Hebrews 13:5, 1 John 4:10). The hope in Jesus’ Resurrection is that we are no longer hopeless. Jesus overcoming death means we, too can overcome—any of the sins that placed Him on that Cross. His ascension is our second chance, our clean slate (1 Corinthians 1:30). How we chalk up our slate now is up to us; He did His part, will we? (Colossians 2:13-14)
It's the end of a new week, and the beginning of a new you. It's your second chance, your clean slate to start over...

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