We have a tendency to “look past” Jesus. As if he is the means to a further end. As if Jesus is one ingredient(a key one, to be sure) in the recipe to conform us and the world to God’s plan. Jesus has done his part - now we need to move on to the next step.

But, the plan of God is fulfilled and complete in Christ. Jesus is the final step. In fact, he was and is the first and only step. Everything else must be subservient to that fact. If we move on from Jesus, we move on from the foundation upon which everything else is built. Nothing stands unless it is connected to him.

We do not accept Jesus and then move on to other methods of sanctification or greater spiritual maturity. All of these things are found only in Jesus and once we forget that we risk losing the essence of the Gospel in exchange for self-effort, principles, and mere morality. Even reliance on the Spirit can become reliance on a source of energy rather than on a person.

Jesus is inextricably entangled in every breath of scripture. He is the hope and savior of all creation. Don’t look past him.