In Jesus Christ, whatever it is, whatever we have been or whatever we have done – we are forgiven. We are forgiven. We are saved. And we are given life anew – life the way it was always supposed to be.

According to the Gospels, the first three commands Jesus issued were Repent, Believe, and Follow Me. Taken together these three commands tell us a lot, not only about Jesus’ mission on earth, but also about what it means for us to become involved in that mission as His disciples.

“In Jesus Christ we see not only what God is truly like, we see also what a human being is supposed to be like.”

“We, like the disciples, are being deeply challenged here by the first of Jesus’ final words.”

“Using the occasion of the annual Passover meal, Jesus will show them – He will give them a visual demonstration – of what His death will mean.”

“Amid all the apocalyptic rhetoric, what Jesus is basically telling His disciples is that when they see these things begin to come to pass, they are to be unafraid, they are to be lifted up by hope, and that they are to be prepared by living a life of obedient faith in Christ beforehand.”