“All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.” Revelation 13:8
I find anger rising and building in my heart as I read the horrific account of my Savior’s betrayal. How could Judas do such a thing? It rips me wide open how hypocrites led Jesus (the Just One) into such an unjust trial. How could Pilot wash his un-innocent hands and then hand The Innocent One over to those bloodthirsty people? How could the hardened soldiers cruelly whip Him until His flesh ripped open, and then nail His hands and feet to a wooden cross, with 8-inch spikes, while everyone cheered and looked upon His naked, bruised, and bloody body? And what of the mocking?
It breaks my heart. The harsh treatment and condemnation seem completely unreasonable – Jesus embodied perfection; He was God! Didn’t they know this? He had committed no crime and had done absolutely no wrong! Yet, the very creatures He created were condemning Him to death. How could this be?
My friend, Jesus saw the end result of our Salvation as He suffered. He had us in mind as He fixed His eyes on our future with Him though we weren’t yet born – He visualized us together. He used faith to meditate on the beauty of our healing and redemption, and as He laid down His life, He laid ahold of His eternal plan from the very beginning of time. It was to bring back everything lost because of the enemy and sin. He wanted a relationship with us. He took upon Himself what we deserved because we could not pay the price – our imperfection through sin made it impossible.
God loves us infinitely more than we will ever know! The possibility of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us brought Jesus so much joy; He willingly embraced the pain it caused momentarily. His death, like a seed, would birth LIFE (a million times over) and set us free forever!
Resurrection was on His heart, even as the enemy raised accusation and havoc – Jesus knew the final outcome! The future bliss of His surrender offered supernatural strength to endure the present cruelty. He wouldn’t stay on the cross or in the grave but would rise again! He would send His Spirit to join our spirit and declare VICTORY!
You see:
– I was the Pharisee
– I was Judas, the betrayer
– I was sick and needed healing
– I was diseased
– I caused Him sorrow
– I rejected Him
– I was a sinner
– I needed a Savior
This is why Jesus came. Judgment of others loosens its tight grip on my heart as I realize this truth: I’m with the ones who put Him on the cross; I need redemption.
Jesus overcame death to give us LIFE to the full! We stand as VICTORS with Him over EVERY problem we face through His Spirit living in us. Whether sin, sorrow, sickness, disease, rejection, or betrayal – whatever haunts us-His shed blood and broken body paid the full price for our freedom!
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Love, Mari Jo Mast and the Help Club for Moms Team
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”” John 11:25-26
Mari Jo encountered God’s unconditional love and grace in the year 2000, which radically freed her from the bondage of legalism and exhausting performance. She desires to faithfully obey and purely reflect the character of Jesus in her life and longs for readers to encounter the Presence of Holy Spirit in her writing.
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