Jesus Christ came to serve. He came to seek and save the lost. He came to destroy the works of the devil and free us who from fear of death had been subject to slavery.
Today is a good day to meditate on John 13-14; Luke 22; Mark 14; contemplate that on that Thursday so long ago, a close companion of Jesus betrayed Him, and the trial began. And all His friends were scattered. Have you known loneliness? Jesus Christ is acquainted with all our griefs, especially that one.
While We Were Yet Sinners…
He came to wash us clean, to purify for Himself a people, to give us a heart to know Him–a new heart, a heart of flesh rather than of stone. We could not have come near to God with our sin-filled heart. Light has no fellowship with darkness. Unless He washes us, we have no part with Him.
All of humanity, with Adam as head, will only continually follow the head toward utter destruction. The brokenness and shame brought on by our sinfulness and the effects of sin on the world are unbearable. Hopeless on our own. But He came; and His sheep hear His voice, and He knows them, and they follow Him (see John 10); Jesus Christ, the second Adam, the True Israel, The true Temple, the Way, the Truth and the Life!
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
He took our sins, our infirmities…all the effects of the Fall… He suffered in our place. He felt the forsakeness that fallen humanity attempts to numb as we wallow in darkness.
Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He did not open His mouth;
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth.
Isaiah 53:4-5, 7
Remember, do not forget! Remind one another! Celebrate, to not grow lazy and weary of gathering together, not now–gather, and bask in the Truth together. Help one another to persevere, we all have need of endurance! Jesus has done the work, and has brought us near; we have the assurance of our eternal salvation, muse upon it! We are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of our souls! (see Hebrews 10)
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
1 Peter 1:18-21
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:21
But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
1 Corinthians 1:30
Justified by faith!
He is our righteousness, He has clothed us in His righteousness! He came to fulfill all righteousness for us, to fulfill the Law for us–for what the Law could not do, the Father did by sending the Son.
I will rejoice greatly in the Lord,
My soul will exult in my God;
For He has clothed me with garments of salvation,
He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,
Isaiah 61:10
Jesus told His disciples before hand that He would die and then three days later He would rise–so we ponder His death, and all that He bore, knowing He conquered sin and death, He nailed our certificate of debt to the cross, and “He had disarmed the rulers and authorities,” and triumphed over His enemies. We consider what He endured on the cross, without trying to do so separately from remembering that He was victorious, “It is finished,” and He went to Paradise, rose from the dead, and now is among the seven golden lampstands (the Church) while ruling and reigning!
May this Maundy Thursday be a time to “consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners [that includes us] against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:3).