DAD'S RAMBLINGS – ALL FOR LOVE
"Then the solders of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews.' " (Matthew 27:27-29)
I am humbled again as I am every time I read the account of Jesus' crucifixion. The thought of all the indignities that He went through causes my heart to mourn, not to mention the pain and agony of being spit on and being beaten. There was the indignity of being stripped of His clothing. There was the mocking He endured, both by the ungodly soldiers and by the chief priests (vs. 41) who said, :""If He is the King of Israel, let Him come down from the cross and we will believe Him' " (vs. 42). There were the blasphemers who passed by, wagging their heads and saying, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross" (vss. 39-40). There was the indignity of the robbers who were crucified with Him who reviled Him (vs. 44).
Jesus, the King of Heaven, the Son of God, the Lord of Hosts, endured the agony of body, mind and spirit. He didn't have to. He could have said, "I don't have to go through this." With one word from His mouth, He could have devastated His enemies.
There is only one reason that He endured such agony. That was love. It was love for me. It was love for His opponents to whom He said, "Father, forgive them." Only one thing kept Jesus on the cross. It was not the nails. It was love.
What a wondrous thing. And yet today there are those who mock, revile, blaspheme, and ridicule Him. But His love remains the same. He suffered for the worst of sinners and for the least of sinners.
O, what love that drew salvation's plan. O, the grace that brought it down to man. O, the mighty gulf that God did span, at Calvary.
Love, Dad
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