A resolution to die …

Sometimes the resoluteness of our lives is more myth than fact.

That brings to mind the question about John Hancock’s rather large signature on the Declaration of Independence. One writer shares the following insight …

Fact of Fiction? John Hancock signed the Declaration of Independence in big, flamboyant letters to make certain the king could read his signature without spectacles, thereby declaring his resolute commitment to the cause of revolution and earning the enduring ire of the king.

Fiction.

While many stories and accounts have arisen over the centuries regarding the Mr.Hancock’s hutzpah (“Take that, King George!”), the reality is far less inspiring. Simply put, Hancock was the first to sign the document. As such, the bottom of the page was completely blank, so he could not rightly judge the proper dimension for his signature. He put pen to paper square in the middle. In all, 56 delegates laid their pens to the task, writing much smaller to accommodate the remaining names.

What people have mistakenly taken as a resolute act on Hancock’s part was just a matter of not knowing how to size a signature!

Sometimes we appear to be more resolute than we really are.

Not so with Jesus …

“As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” – Luke 9:51.

Jesus was absolutely resolute to go to Jerusalem, knowing that the pinnacle of His purpose — to offer Himself as a sacrifice for the sin of all humankind by dying on a cross — was what waited for Him in that city.

This was not a resoluteness in the moment for Jesus. Being resolute about His mission was something that marked the entire earthly life of Christ from boyhood. Do you remember the story about Jesus, at age 12, when He went with his parents to Jerusalem for the Passover festival? His parents “lost” Him!

“When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. His parents didn’t know what to think. ‘Son,’ his mother said to him, ‘why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere,’” Luke 2:41-48.

Joseph and Mary were freaking out over the disappearance of Jesus. But Jesus was being resolute …

“’But why did you need to search?’ he asked. ‘Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?’” Luke 2:49.

Jesus was resolute to learn what He must for His mission (“Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people,” Luke 2:52), then He later “set His face” — was resolute — to go to Jerusalem and achieve His mission to save the world.

Jesus lived a life committed to a resolution to die.

How resolute are you about being a disciple of Jesus Christ?

Scotty