Easter Reflection - Just Beyond the Cross
We are delighted to have Justin Jackson, Mentor "Co-labourer” for Pastures—Servant Leadership Training and Mentoring for Men, contribute to the blog as he challenges us to name our Lombardi. Justin, a proud Atlanta native, blends a commitment to community service, professional excellence, and family values to create a life path that is both fulfilling and impactful. Justin is a husband and father of two. You can read Justin’s bio on our “about” page. Happy Easter!
What’s your Lombardi?
Reflection
A few years back, I asked myself, “What’s your Lombardi?” As a fan of American football, I’ve watched the Super Bowl each year as far back as I can remember. I don’t play a single snap, nor am I paid to tune in. It's just fun to watch the display of emotions as a team reaches the pinnacle of the sport, and each person gets their chance to hoist, embrace, or kiss the Vince Lombardi Trophy upon winning the game. An admirer of the game and the human condition, I take note of the reactions. What made him respond that way? What hardships did he go through to get here? What does it take? Is that 300-lb man crying?
Though I am not a pro athlete, I sought ways to apply these same questions in my own life. What could I aim toward where I would be satisfied with the accomplishment, status, or reward? My spirit whispered salvation, but I ignored the response for something tangible on this side of heaven. Despite many hours of introspection, I couldn’t come up with anything worthwhile for my pursuits. So, I closed my notes app and left the question unanswered.
As providence would have it, I was recently tasked with providing close protection for the Lombardi Trophy during a company event. I quickly learned the level of the lore that precedes the championship trophy. Set in a display case, all are free to look, snap selfies, and move on. A select few may touch it with gloves on when moving it, and a yet smaller group can touch it with their bare hands - an honor reserved for each year’s Super Bowl Champions.
As the assignment progressed, I started thinking.
Now, seeing the Lombardi Trophy up close, under my direct protection, does it still represent something I might aim for that would give me the ultimate sense of accomplishment? No, not at all.I mentioned earlier that I am an admirer of the human condition, and as such, the trophy only fully accessible to the Super Bowl champions, excludes too many. The right answer came to me in an instant: The Cross.
I began to think about the cross and what it represents - Jesus laying down His life for all humanity. The cross is where one sees Jesus as the Savior He is. One of the criminals crucified with Christ recognized Him as he confessed, “We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” (Luke 23:41). If we look upon the cross with humility, we will see the same thing the thief saw.
In my personal journey to a relationship with Christ, when I accepted there was no amount of good I could do to make up for my sin, I recall visualizing myself laying all of it at the foot of the cross. I surrendered the weight of the burden that MY sin placed on me and gave it to Jesus - the only one with the power to save me. Things that made me feel shame, fear, loneliness, embarrassment, anger - everything that stood in my way of a relationship with God - had no hold over me any longer.
Application
In the search to know Christ, one can return to the cross. There, one can find not only their sin but also the sin of every man and woman, for “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Rom 3:23) . Each visit to the cross serves as a reminder to oneself (and to satan) that the price for our sin was paid in full whilst bringing humility to the forefront as one looks upon their former ways. It’s a good remedy should self-righteousness and the condemnation of others for their sin creep in to knock us off the path.
Jesus says, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture, (John 10:7,9).” As many in the world around us continue through the wide and broad gate that leads to destruction, can we say for certain that our eyes are fixed on the narrow road and small gate that leads to life that only a few find (Matthew 7:13-14)? In his last moments, the thief hanging on the cross next to Jesus recognized this. He pleaded, “Jesus, remember me when you came into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42-43).
God did not call us to set our sights on a Lombardi Trophy, Nobel Prize, or any other earthly equivalent. We serve a God who created us all to have life and have it more abundantly, not exclusively. If I’m looking for something to strive for, I’m looking at the cross where Jesus died for our sins, claimed victory over death, and would rise again. I’ve found the cross to be the ultimate symbol of victory. Set your eyes on it, for just beyond the cross is the Kingdom.
Yours in Christ,
Justin
