It's finally resurrection Sunday. I absolutely felt an intense emotion of happiness and joy to know that My Jesus, my savior, died for me. What a love! This is the happiest day for a Christian, knowing that Jesus defeated death. His body was not found in the tomb because he resurrected and is still ALIVE today!
Today let's look at how getting to this point was definitely not an easy road for Jesus. Lets take a look at all the things Jesus went through so that we as Christians can have eternal life with Him in heaven.
Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. If it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. - John 12:23-31 NIV
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. - Luke 22:42-44 NIV
Things got so tough for Jesus, that even though He knew how important this moment was, He prayed and ask God, if He was willing, to take away this mission. Jesus knew this would this mission was filled with humiliation, Disownership, injustice, pain and Sacrifice. But one thing for sure was that through it all Jesus would stand victorious in the face of death. Just when the enemy thought he won, even death couldn't hold the purity and innocence of Jesus. Jesus knew his love would be rejected by many but hHe still loved us anyway. Jesus knew He would face ridicule but He loved us anyway. He was about to do something that no one on this earth could do.
1. Humiliation: Jesus went through so much humiliation constantly. He shared the truth about His mission and who He was. He shared his peace, and the unfailing words of God. He shared his Wisdom, he taught lessons about love and life, he healed. And yet, there were naysayers who continued to humiliate Him. Even on the cross Jesus was humiliated when he was already suffering to quench his thirst instead of water they gave him vinegar. They still did not accept Him or his love. Sometimes we may experience giving out love to those who refuse to accept it no matter what we do. Remember that Jesus went through this as well. He received no respect even at the very end and yet, He endured it all for us.
2. Disowned When times are hardest for you that's when you see people falling away from you. It's when you needed them the most that they run away or even betray you. Jesus went through this when his own followers disowned him and pretended not to know him. Judas betrayed him for a sum of money, which he later found out would never fulfill him. Peter, another one of his followers, denied Jesus three times quickly disowning Him as his Master. No one had his back but still He pushed forward with love. He still sacrificed his life for us.
3. Injustice When Jesus was put on the cross, there were two criminals beside Him. One of which who did not accept the love of Jesus and the other who did. The criminal who accepted Jesus, understood that Jesus was innocent and had no business being hung on the cross like he was. He understood that he was deserving to be on the cross for the crimes He had committed but he also believed that Jesus was powerful enough to save him of his sins. Notice, that this is an example of what should have happen to us. We deserve to be hung on a cross for the sins we have committed against God. But instead Jesus took our place. He was falsely accused for every single sin that we have committed including adultery, theft, murder, lies etc. Jesus paid for them all on that cross. Despite the injustice that Jesus experienced He made himself vulnerable until he died on the cross to save us He never once tried to escape the injustice but instead endured it for us.
4. Pain and Sacrifice Jesus said that he is the good shepherd and that the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. In order for you to know that the person leading you is Jesus you need to see that he sacrificed his life for you. He loves you so much he endured the pain of being beaten and then nailed to a cross to prove his love for you. And to show you that he is all powerful he rose again on the third day.
Jesus faced all this to save us from death and to give us eternal life in heaven.The enemy wanted us to end badly. He wanted to see us lose but no matter how hard he tried he didn't realize that Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice, pure and holy in every way. This story of Jesus brings such a sensitive feeling in my heart. He is love. and Jesus loved so fully and so amazingly that He died for those who would follow him and accept his love. He need only your heart. This plan was so difficult for Jesus that he even asked for his father to take away this mission from Him, if it was in the will of God. However, love conquered all the pain, humiliation, betrayal, and injustice that Jesus faced for us and we now have the victory over death.
You may feel at times you are not clean enough for Jesus to recieve your heart. Just remember that Jesus came for that broken and contrite spirit so that he could resurrect it!
Yes, and I say Amen for this victory!