If you have ever loved a friend, a significant other, a spouse, a child, anyone, you know what it is to be willing to do anything for him.
You know no sacrifice is too large, no request too much. No inconvenience will make you turn away. If she needs it, if it will benefit him, you will do all in your power to make it happen.
Jesus knows that type of love, and that definition of loyalty.
“For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
Jesus willingly went to the cross, a death penalty reserved for the worst of the worst. Bible Scholar and pastor David Guzik observed, “Knowing the good that would flow from the most agonizing experience, Jesus was able to go to the cross and endure it with triumph.”
Jesus had the most challenging of assignments: be the perfect sacrifice to save all of humanity from sin.
Jesus also had a choice. He could have called 10,000 angels to His rescue. (Matthew 26:53). He didn’t have to go through with the pain and suffering. But He loved God more.
He loved you more.
He loved me more.
Let that sink in.
Jesus didn’t buy into pride. He didn’t feel the need to prove He was the Son of God, even when taunted by others while suffering in pain.
He didn’t buy into self-pity.
He didn’t buy into depression, immobility, or anger.
He kept His eyes fixed on the Father, and His mission: to know God and bring Him glory. He knew He Himself could redeem us. He knew God would be glorified and humanity saved. He did this for the joy set before Him- the joy of bringing honor to His Father, and spending eternity with His brothers and sisters.
He believed that joy, the joy of honoring God and spending eternity with you and me, would outweigh the pain and anguish of the cross.
How humbling.
He thought you and I were worth it. The perfect, sinless person thought that sacrifice was worth redeeming us. Wow.
You and I might imagine we aren’t worth it. We can immediately list our mistakes and misdeeds. The great thing is, we can be redeemed by Jesus without needing to be perfect like Him. It’s called grace. God authored it. Jesus enacted it. And you and I get to live through it.
Let’s make sure we don’t miss out on His love and His amazing grace.
Let’s ask Him to help us know Him more, to start to understand the depth of love He has for us.
Prayer: Dear Lord, Wow. Thank You for redeeming me. Thank You for believing I was worth it. Please help me focus on learning more about You, who You are, and what You wants for my minutes. Please help me submit to You. I am in awe of Jesus and His obedience, His example of doing what God asked. Please teach me to become obedient too. In Jesus’ name, Amen.