When it comes to Easter, this is one of the times in the year that people actually
1) go to a church and
2) open their bible and read the passage of his death and resurrection.
Choosing then only to experience a taste of the significance of this Savior's death. Today, I want you to read the entirety of this post, entirely for you benefit. So that you can maybe experience more than a taste of His amazing love and the weight of it.
"And he said to them, 'I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.'" (Luke 22: 15-16)
Jesus was in complete knowledge of everything that was about to happen to Him that night. Jesus had the power to yield it all but he chose instead to accept it and bear it.
"And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw away, and knelt down and prayed, saying, 'Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.' And there appeared to him an angle from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (41-44)
He chose to bear this cup of all our sin and shame. He chose to literally and vividly go through Hell so that we could be with him. His best friends betrays him (v. 45 and 48). His privacy had been invaded upon (v. 49). He was wrongly accused and he still chose to sacrifice himself for you. His enemy. He chose to sacrifice himself so that man and God could have open conversation daily. He chose to break the bearer that separated God and man.
He chose the cross.
He chose the shame.
He chose the ridicule.
He chose the pain.
He chose the agonizing and brutal death.
He chose you.
Ephesians 1: 4-5, "Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love, He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ himself, according to the kind intention of His will."
He chose the cross for you.
He chose the shame for you.
He chose the ridicule and betrayal for you.
He chose all the agonizing pain; emotionally and physically, for you.
He chose his brutal, inhumane death.
He chose to be beaten beyond recognition of a man.
Isaiah 52: 14, "As many were astonished at you- his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind-"
He chose to offer himself in you place.
He chose you.
He chose all of this for you!
He chose you because of his crazy relentless and pursuing love. This love is the love that by it we are saved. He loves you. He has chosen you, he has bought you with the price of his shed blood. His love for you is in-fathomable! He is so crazy about you!
He wants to have conversations with you every day! He wants you to talk to him openly, no shame. He wants to rescue you from your pit of despair and ALL (not just some or most) ALL of your baggage.
Because He loves you, he took all of your baggage and burdens upon himself so that you could be free from it FOREVER!
Live in this freedom that he is offering so freely to you. Live in the knowledge that Jesus, Son of God, creator of everything, loves you- every freckle, every scar. He loves every part of you.
He doesn't only like your hair, your personality, he loves your flaws. He wants you to embrace them all so that through your weakness, He might be glorified and make you stronger.
Know that he loves you.
Know that he chose you.
Know that this love, once you have it, it is NEVER EVER going away.
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