Big WHY?

It was a terrible dismal week for Jesus.  From the moment of being betrayed until being nailed to the cross and dying.  Some might say it appeared that Jesus hadn't gotten any victory.

To start off, just after the triumphant donkey back ride over palm branches and clothes-strewn roadway, complete with multitudes shouting, "Hosanna! Hosanna!", Jesus disciple Judas Iscariot betrayed Him.  Then the rest of the disciples deserted Jesus upon His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane; and shortly thereafter Peter, one of Jesus' inner circle of disciples, denies he ever knew Jesus. The old cliche sounds reasonably apropos, "with friends like these who needs enemies"!

Jewish leaders, who you'd think, just because they were Jewish, and Jesus was also born into a Jewish family, that, you know, "birds of a feather would stick together".  No, that didn't happen.  Out of jealousy and self-righteous anger at Jesus' radical-ness and ability to draw the crowds,  those leaders became the instigators behind Jesus' arrest and subsequent crucifixion.

The Roman soldiers, for their own reasons and likely also following orders, trooped out under cover of darkness to make Jesus' arrest.  They didn't even seem to know who Jesus was.  They needed the sign' of Judas' fatal kiss of betrayal to show them who exactly they were apprehending.

Incidentally, a kiss on the cheek in those days was usually 'administered' to a guest upon their arrival at a home to which they'd been invited.  It was a customary symbol of peace, and hospitality given by the host of the house.  How ironic, Judas' kiss was meant for great ill.

Not to be outdone, the thieving criminals on their crosses, one on either side of Jesus, added their two cents' worth of ridicule.

Lastly, Jesus hung there on the cross in all the physical pain and agony His humanity had to endure.  Then came the hours of darkness, lasting three hours.  Jesus taking all our sin and shame upon Himself.  Sin that separated Him from God His Father, who loved Him.  

Oh the agony of soul and spirit then, accompanied by His anguished cry, 

"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani...My God, My God, why have you forsaken me" (Matthew 27:46 ESV)?

WHY?!  Why would Jesus suffer all of that and more?

We are told God's plan in Romans 5:8 (NIV)...

"God demonstrates His own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

God says He loves us and He was proving that love by this sacrificial act of His One and Only Son Jesus Christ dying on the cross and shedding His blood to make atonement for our souls.  

In another place we learn,

"Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins" (Hebrews 9:22).

Jesus went through all of that for me; for you...for all of mankind...for the 'whosoever will" (John 3:16)  He did what it took.

It was out of love...God's love...His love for sinners that He didn't want to see His human creation perish eternally in Hell, that place actually made for the devil and his minions; not for mankind (Matthew 25:41)!

God wanted to provide a rescue plan and Jesus' death and resurrection was how He secured our pardon and atonement for our souls.

He died, He was buried and He rose again on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:4).

Will we in turn reciprocate that love?  Will we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior?  Will we thank Him for all He has done for us through that mighty selfless act?

During the Good Friday service this morning the thought popped into my mind.  This is one of the times of year (Christmas being another major time) in which many of our brothers and sisters in Christ especially suffer  persecution perpetuated by those who hate Jesus and what Jesus stands for.  Please pray for all such people around the world wherever they may be that God's hand of justice and protection will be hovering around and over all of them as they too gather to remember what their Savior has done for them.  Maybe even 'program' a few minutes of quiet into your day to talk to our Father on their behalf (John 15:20-25).

Why would they suffer in those ways?  Out of their love for Him.

Why did Jesus suffer for us?  The Big WHY?!

Out of love, Jesus came.  Out of love He died for us.  He rose again triumphant.  Indeed He got the victory over sin and death and Hell.

Will we in turn reciprocate that love?  Will we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior?  Will we thank Him for all He has done for us through that mighty selfless act?

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

What LOVE was that!!

Thank Him.

                                                     ~ERC   19 April 2019~



I want to share this hymn with you all The Love of God