God loved the world so much that He sent His only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. But Jesus had to agree to go.
“Then I said, “Behold, I come; in the scroll of the book as it is written of me.” Psalm 40:7
In agreeing to give His life He knew what was set before Him — a cross and then a crown but first came the crown of thorns that He wore as He was led to the cross to die for us.
On the night before His death He prayed then obeyed the Father:
He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. Luke 20:41-44
He prayed because He knew the death He would die for us, and being in human form He asked the Father if there was another way that He could save us.
Isaiah foresaw His suffering and wrote:
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul,and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.Isaiah 53:5-12
1000 Thousand Thank Yous Doesn’t Seem Like Enough!
When I think about what Jesus did for me and the whole world 1000 thousand thank yous doesn’t seem like enough. He went through all of that just for us.
When I think about my loved ones who have not given their lives completely over Jesus, I can be hopefully because no matter what they’ve done, are doing and will do He’s already paid the price for us all. He left no one out, all they have to do is come to the end of themselves and ask Him to come in, then they will also be granted eternal salvation.
When I think about my present sufferings which are minor compared to the suffering others around the world, I have hope that even though the world is crazy, all is not lost. One day, when there is a new heaven and anew earth, He will wipe the tears from their eyes and there will be no more suffering, no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain. (Rev 21:4)
When I get discouraged I look to Jesus, “The author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2
Beloved, as we celebrate the cross and the crown this week, and you continue to bear your own cross and maybe even some things that feel like a crown of thorns remember Jesus’ cross and His crown. You can take it. you can make. There is a heavenly crown waiting for you too.
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