For the Joy: The One who finishes what He starts

One on One in His Passion—Day 1

Jesus finishes what He starts.

When we witnessed Jesus’ birth, we met people in Jesus’ backstory. He stepped into time, put on skin, and showed us God’s love, the ultimate Christmas gift.

Through His ministry years, we watched Jesus heal and teach and connect with people. We learned how to “love each other the way I have loved you.” 

But never before or since can we see love better personified than in Jesus’ walk to the cross. Those are hard days to watch. We want to look away. We cringe at the injustice and agony.

But Jesus wants us to see something different. He wants us to know . . .

·                 That every second of His suffering was by design.

·                 That nobody took His life, but He laid it down willingly.

·                 That the Cross was the plan all along.

Actually, you were on His mind in these days. Hebrews 12:1 says Jesus endured the cross because it gave Him joy to pay off your debt, allowing you to live with Him forever. If we stand alone before God, our sin condemns us to hell. But Jesus’ body broken and innocent blood shed paid what God’s holiness requires. Jesus’ sacrifice covers our sin, every single one.

In the coming days you will witness Jesus:

Misunderstood            Betrayed       Deserted

Arrested                      Denied            Beaten

Tried                           Mocked           Crucified

It will feel like a train off its track. But don’t believe it; Jesus was right on mission. In any moment, God the Father could have rescued Him. But something bigger was going on.

As we go One on One with Jesus in His Passion, don’t get caught up in the horror of Jesus’ murder, instead, embrace the extravagance of His gift.

“Grasp how wide and long and high and deep is Jesus’ love, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may live full lives, full in the fullness of God.” 

This is Jesus finishing what He started. Celebrate the end goal: us with Him forever.

But stick around. Until that final day, He’s still working on us, and in us. Until then, be confident of this: that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 

Let’s see how in the days ahead.  

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

Tomorrow: One on one with Jesus as it begins

Let’s talk about it:

1.               What do you hope to experience in a new way this Passion season?

2.               Does it change anything about the Easter story for you to think about the long story that God had in mind.