solus christus

“You all sure do talk a lot about Jesus.”

We Lutherans hear this line from time to time, and although meant as a criticism, we actually take it as a compliment. The assumption behind the statement speaks to a problem in much of modern American Christianity - not enough talk about Jesus! Can you ever have too much Jesus? Impossible! The fact is that our problems are usually caused because we are focusing our hearts and minds on everything else rather than fixing them on Jesus.

Many people today find themselves lost, empty, and hopeless when they don't “feel” something in their hearts. When they look at their lives, they see little evidence that "proves" to them that God loves them. So what should Christians do when they don't see progress in their desire to love God more? Where should you turn when you find yourself making the same mistakes, despite all your best efforts? Look to Jesus. Cling to Christ. Set your eyes upon the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ.

He's always there in His Word and Sacraments, in the precious Gospel that is outside of us. There in the good news Gospel that never depends on how you feel or what you think. Your emotions and thoughts will ebb and flow from one day to the next. But Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Looking inside ourselves we see our sins, doubts, fears, worries, and concerns. But when we confess that sin, we look outside of ourselves to the light of Christ, which dispels the darkness. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

So fix your eyes on Jesus. Focus on Him. Look to His cross and empty tomb. "Nothing in my hands I bring, only to thy cross I cling." You will always be disappointed if you choose to look inside yourself for comfort or security. You will always be let down if you put your hope and trust in other human beings, no matter how close they are to you. You will always be disappointed if you put your hope and security in your job, your marriage, an organization, or an institution.

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Gal. 2)

That's the secret of the Christian life. That's the key to being a good news person in a bad news world. Christ crucified and risen for you and for me. It’s all about Jesus. He is the One who gave Himself up for you. He is the One who died and rose again for you. He is the One who loves you with an eternal and everlasting love. He has purchased and won you from sin, death and the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death. Why? So that you may be His own, and live under Him, in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness.

It’s still all about Jesus. Solus Christus. Christ Alone.

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