Gavin Jarvis
I’m not part of the Catholic church, and I didn’t need to be to hear about the pope’s death. This man was the leader of half of the world’s Christian population and held a political weight for a long, long time.
With Pope Francis’ funeral ended, the Catholic church worldwide in a time of mourning, and the process of electing a new pope beginning in a few days, I wanted to reflect on a few things that I held in common with the pope, and that all humanity shares in common.
The basis of Pope Francis’ hope was Jesus Christ. He said as much when he made the theme of the Catholic church for 2025 exactly that: “Jesus Christ our Hope.” For the many differences that exist in the Christian church worldwide, we all teach that this one, named Jesus, is the one that thousands of years of biblical prophecy spoke about.
He is fully God and fully man, and as stated in an ancient declaration of faith, he is “God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father.”
It is because of who Jesus’ is and what he has done to redeem humankind that gives us hope eternally. And that is the same hope for any man, woman, or child that wants peace with God.
Watching scenes of the pope’s funeral reminded me of two things: That I am mortal, and that there is no one who can stand between me and God who won’t die one day. My Catholic neighbors: As a protestant I’m praying for your pope’s successor and for the leadership of your church.
That being said, our hope cannot be in any mortal because that man will die one day. But all of us have something much better in Christ!
The book of Hebrews says this: “The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he (Jesus) holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:23-25
Our mortality points to our common need for an uncommon savior. Finally, all humans sin. The pope regularly engaged in confession. Sin is a massively big deal because it, as Oxford languages defines it, is a transgression of divine law.
It removes us from good standing from God and makes us guilty before his court. Humanity stands worthy of judgment unless we can be rescued from someone who is free from sin.
And what a rescuer we have!
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.” 1 Timothy 2:5-6
There is one man alone who is the hope of any pauper or pope. The man Jesus Christ.
Gavin Jarvis is lead pastor at Living Stones Church.