tuesday.
JESUS is just days away from going through the most stressful and painful death in existence. the physical pain HE goes through is enough for me to shudder. all those visual images that pop up in my head cause me to freeze in awe. however, that wasn’t even half of what JESUS went through.
imagine you are excited for an upcoming trip or friend. don’t the days seem a little bit longer? now imagine you have a giant exam due in two days. suddenly, the time you have is shortened. what if, instead of a test, your life would be over in two days. not only that, but you knew how you would die and the amount of pain you would go through. now, anxiety is settling in. well, JESUS knew this all HIS life. HE even prayed that it would not happen. yet, HIS eyes were still fixed on the FATHER, so HE obeyed, but soon GOD would not be returning that comfort to HIS SON.
GOD the FATHER turned HIS face away from JESUS when HE was on the cross. believe it or not, but right there, JESUS tasted hell. literal hell. hell is knowing GOD will not love you. hell is experiencing that rejection from the ONE BEING who is the only ONE who stands firm when all else fails. hell is separation from GOD. JESUS experienced this on the cross. it’s painful to watch JESUS being crucified, but it would be unbearable to be able to visualize what JESUS went through spiritually.
yet, what sinks in the most is not the pain, the suffering, or the anxiety that JESUS experienced, but the fact that HE did it for me. HE suffered the most agonizing death in history because HE loves me. “but GOD showed HIS love for us, in that while we were still sinners, CHRIST died for us.”
it’s easy to forget how much HE really does love us. and if we honestly remembered, our lives would be changed. “who cares about my selfish desires, i’ve been given abounding grace, so i’m gonna live in light of the grace given to me.” that should be our response. that should be my response.
JESUS is just days away from going through the most stressful and painful death in existence. the physical pain HE goes through is enough for me to shudder. all those visual images that pop up in my head cause me to freeze in awe. however, that wasn’t even half of what JESUS went through.
imagine you are excited for an upcoming trip or friend. don’t the days seem a little bit longer? now imagine you have a giant exam due in two days. suddenly, the time you have is shortened. what if, instead of a test, your life would be over in two days. not only that, but you knew how you would die and the amount of pain you would go through. now, anxiety is settling in. well, JESUS knew this all HIS life. HE even prayed that it would not happen. yet, HIS eyes were still fixed on the FATHER, so HE obeyed, but soon GOD would not be returning that comfort to HIS SON.
GOD the FATHER turned HIS face away from JESUS when HE was on the cross. believe it or not, but right there, JESUS tasted hell. literal hell. hell is knowing GOD will not love you. hell is experiencing that rejection from the ONE BEING who is the only ONE who stands firm when all else fails. hell is separation from GOD. JESUS experienced this on the cross. it’s painful to watch JESUS being crucified, but it would be unbearable to be able to visualize what JESUS went through spiritually.
yet, what sinks in the most is not the pain, the suffering, or the anxiety that JESUS experienced, but the fact that HE did it for me. HE suffered the most agonizing death in history because HE loves me. “but GOD showed HIS love for us, in that while we were still sinners, CHRIST died for us.”
it’s easy to forget how much HE really does love us. and if we honestly remembered, our lives would be changed. “who cares about my selfish desires, i’ve been given abounding grace, so i’m gonna live in light of the grace given to me.” that should be our response. that should be my response.
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