Sunday, June 11, 2017

Jesus died for being Himself

The Jewish leaders tried to condemn Jesus based on the testimonies of false witnesses, but ultimately, the high priest demanded that Jesus confess that He was the Messiah, the Son of God, which He admitted.  Jesus is the Truth, even in how He allowed humanity to condemn Him to death for being Himself.  (And I think that, because Pilot and Herod did not set Jesus free, God showed us that we are all guilty of the death of Jesus, Jew and Gentile alike.)

Even the sign of condemnation on the cross above Jesus was true and revealed another aspect of His identity: King of the Jews.  Beginning with Abraham, God was "king" of the Israelites, but they insisted on having a human king.  In His death, Jesus the God-Man finally restored the kingship of Israel to God.

The irony is that Jesus, the King, did not enforce His lordship.  We live in an age of voluntary submission to His lordship.  When the women were weeping for Jesus on His way to Golgatha, Jesus hinted at the coming judgement for those who do not submit to Him as king.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your great love lavished on us, that you would pay our debt so that we could be restored to relationship with you.  Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice on the cross.  Thank you for your humility to offer yourself as the propitiation for our sin, instead of insisting on your rightful place as King.  Holy Spirit, thank you for leading people to Christ.  May I join you in your work.  I love you, and I pray in the name of Jesus.

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