11/21/2023
Jesus didn’t come to earth to redeem us because He felt sympathetic love for us, He came at His Father’s request to do a job, and that job was to defeat sin, overcome death, and to glorify God Himself. His task was to mend the rift that had occurred in the Garden of Eden between God the creator, Eve the woman, and Adam the man, whom He had created. He would do this by the only way possible... offering the blood sacrifice of His only begotten Son, Jesus.
“I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.”
John 17:4 ESV
Jesus understood why He was born, and went about His life with full knowledge and expectation of laying His life down when it was time to complete His Father’s will here. Although very important His primary duty wasn’t simply to love on us... it was to save us by paying our debt of sin with his own suffering, death, and resurrection. Calvary wasn’t something that was suddenly sprung on Christ as a surprise, but had been the will of God all along.
“No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father."”
John 10:18 ESV
There is a bit of wisdom among older people; it is rather humorous, but has truth in it; the statement that goes like this... “You know you’re getting old when you stoop to tie your shoes, and wonder what else you can do while you’re down there.”
I have looked at the life of Jesus and wondered if He wasn’t adhering a bit to this same tongue in cheek wisdom by looking around for other things He could do while He was down here among us. He came to defeat sin, and to redeem mankind, but since bending down came with such effort and suffering, He decided that while He was here He should teach us more of God and what was expected of us as His children. Well, as human, and humorous, as this notion might seem, everything Jesus did was planned by God from the very beginning.
“So Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.”
John 7:16 ESV
Jesus taught us that we should pick up our cross and follow Him. He was preparing to walk through the eye of the needle, and wanted us to follow Him through... not so that we would defeat death and sin, but so that we could come eternally into the glory of God with Him. It was the job of Jesus to deal with sin, it is ours to obey our savior’s commandments, and adhere to His teaching. Sheep aren’t the shepherd, but if they follow after His voice then they will surely find safety and life. In this way Jesus is certainly our shepherd.
Jesus taught His original disciples, and he left lessons for others to follow. We have been passing these lessons on, one to another, for centuries. He spoke of laying down His life for the sheep who were with Him at that moment, but He also spoke of other sheep who were not in this original fold, but would follow later... He spoke of us.
“just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”
John 10:15-16 ESV
Do you see and understand that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, has laid down His life for you? Do you realize that He has paid your debt, redeemed you from sin, and defeated death for you? Can you hear His voice beckoning you to come and follow Him? If so, then what is your decision today? Will you follow Him, or choose to refuse the price He has paid for you? The work of Jesus has been done here, but will you pick up your cross and walk on with Him into what lies ahead?
Choose!
“And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”
John 17:5 ESV
Prayer:
Father, we thank you for sending your Son Jesus to defeat sin that we might be reconciled. We thank you for your will and plan that was laid even before the world existed, and which included each of us. We praise your name Holy Father for your mercy, grace, and the suffering that Jesus endured in its unfolding. You are a good Father, and all things do work together for our good as we walk in love with you. Help us to follow Jesus, our Shepherd. Teach us to listen to His voice, that we should come into your presence, your sin-free pasture, and live in witness of your glory forever. Hear our praise, feel our love, and know that you are our God.
Rich Forbes