THE LOVE OF JESUS!

BIBLE PASSAGE:
In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the
law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,”
they said, “but he can’t save himself!Let this Christ, this
King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we
may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also
heaped insults on him.
(Mark 15:31-32)

MEDITATION:
Have you ever noticed that sometimes people say one thing, but
mean something else? There are also times when a person says
one thing, and without realizing it, their words say something
that is true, but it was not their intent.

For example, when the religious leaders mocked Jesus and
challenged Him to save Himself from the cross, they said
“He could not save Himself”. They knew He had healed others,
but since He was staying on the cross, they said that he couldn’t
save Himself. In their minds, He was powerless to save Himself.

These were the right words, but with the wrong meaning. What
they said was correct, but it was not what they intended it to mean.
It’s true that Jesus could not save Himself …IF He was to fulfill
His purpose as Savior of the world. His death was a requirement
for man’s redemption.

However, Jesus was absolutely ‘not powerless’ to save Himself,
but He ‘chose’ not to save Himself. If He had saved Himself
from death, then He could not have saved others, including
you and me.

It was the love of Jesus that held Him to the cross (and not the nails).
Through His suffering, death and resurrection, He taught us to
‘take up the cross’ and follow Him; and not to come down from
the cross. We should never forget that Jesus loved us so much that
He ‘chose’ to stay on the cross.

How much more could He have done to prove His love for us and
His obedience to God? Many people say the right words about
Jesus, but fail to grasp the real meaning of their words. Do you?
And, do you fully understand that Jesus ‘had’ to stay on the cross?

ACTION:
If you have never received Jesus as your Savior, pray to do so
now. If you have received Him as your Savior, thank Him often
for staying on the cross until His work on our behalf was finished!

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus
to become the One and only sacrifice for my sins. Thank
You, Jesus for willingly absorbing the punishment I deserve.
No one else could ever express the kind of love You have
shown to me. Help me in my efforts to become more like
You in all that I do and say.”

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