God loved the whole world – past, present and future – so much that He became our Emmanuel, and He came to live with us on this earth (John 3:16-17). He chose Mary as Jesus’ mother, and the Holy Spirit formed Jesus in Mary’s womb.
Jesus did not inherit Adam’s sin from His earthly Father, Joseph. This allowed Him to be God’s perfect Lamb, as well as our eternal brother and friend (God loved the whole world; Mathew 1:23, 12:50; Luke 1:38; John 1:29, 15:14-15).
His life on earth was no picnic. Like us, He experienced the trials and negative circumstances that are common during our lifetime (Isaiah 53:3; Hebrews 5:8). When He faced His future persecution and crucifixion, He asked Father God if there was any other way to pay the sin debt of the whole world (Luke 22:39-42).
Yet, He said, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” His humility led Him through the illegal mockery of night courts; a brutal scourging; and the exhausting trek up Golgotha’s hill, where He fell multiple times. The soldiers finally conscripted a by-stander to carry the cross the rest of the way up the hill (Mark 15:21).
When Jesus hung naked on the cross (Mark 15:24), humiliated, in pain, carrying the punishment for the sins of the whole world, and ashamed, He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me (Psalm 22:1-3; Matthew 27:46)? Due to my sins, your sins, and the sins of everyone who ever lived and who would ever live, God could no longer fellowship with or look upon the man Jesus (Habakkuk 1:13).
I could not live one moment without the Trinity of God in me, but Jesus hung tormented and in pain for hours without the sustenance from God’s Spirit that we are so used to having each moment of our day. Thankfully, Father God shortened the normal hours it took for a Roman crucifixion to extinguish the life from a body (Mark 15:22-25; Luke 23:44-46).
Jesus looked up into heaven and declared, “It is finished” (John 19:28-30). He took the sting out of death for every authentic Believer (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). His friends and family laid his body in the borrowed tomb (Matthew 27:60), but His spirit and soul were immediately transported to Heaven where He received His immortal body (2 Corinthians 5:8).
Prayer:
Father God, Jesus – Your only begotten Son, did all of this for each one of us; yet, so many reject His sacrifice for their account, and choose to believe worldly fairy tales and satanic lies rather than Your Truth (1 Timothy 1:4), which is so readily accessible to everyone, especially now days by the internet. They condemn themselves to an eternity in everlasting torment (John 3:18), rather than to enjoy the blessings of Your principles, protection, provision, and presence both now and forevermore.
They attempt to understand spiritual truths with finite minds and will not allow Your Spirit to guide them into Your Truth (John 14:6; Titus 1:14). We pray that You will draw them to Your bleeding side and hands (John 20:27). We pray for these prideful and rebellious people who, for whatever reason, cannot release their grip on satanic lies, human philosophies, and worldly traditions to grab hold of the life jacket of Your Truth.
Thought for the Day:
We are forever grateful for the Cross, and we cling to the truth of what it represents in our life. We search for the narrow path of blessings, which God provides for everyone, but there are few who ever find it due to the sin they cling to and the unwillingness to trade their sin and addiction to worldly philosophies for the righteousness of Christ – a free gift to everyone who will simply humble themselves and believe.
- Romans 5:15; Ephesians 2:8-9
