Their Sacrifice

The weight of the Lord’s sacrifice does not escape me. I feel it now as I sit here. He gave everything for us, for me, people He did not yet know but already loved, loved enough to hand over the most important thing in not only the world, but in all the universes and all the worlds, in all the ages and all the eras.

When Adam and Eve fell, God watched the fall from Heaven, His heart falling alongside them. How could they do it, He probably wondered. I created them to be above all, yet they desired to be beneath. They want the world more than they want me. In a moment, He made a plan, for there only was one way to get humanity out of the problem they created for themselves.

What must that conversation have been like, the one between Jesus and God? Did Jesus know it was coming, was He watching the fall beside His Father, knowing He would be the only way to lift us back up? I wonder if Jesus was afraid of what He knew He would have to do. I wonder if He was ever upset at His Father for asking. I wonder, but I doubt it. I think when humanity fell, Jesus and His Father locked eyes and agreed. Jesus must die so we could live.

Who was it harder for? The Father asking or the Son accepting? We usually only think of Jesus when we think of the sacrifice, for He was the one who bare the cross, endured the lashes, wore the crown of thorns, cried out as his hands and feet were nailed. Our minds drift to Jesus for the pain He endured for us, pain He, the Son of the Creator of the universe, never should have experienced.

But, what must the pain have been like for the Father? He watched, without interfering, as His only Son was spit on, humiliated, scarred, carried the cross. He listened as Jesus wept in pain and agony, yet God would not interfere on behalf of His Son, for to interfere would be humanities demise.

Jesus endured the breaking of His body, but God had to endure the breaking of His heart. I cannot imagine allowing a loved one to sacrifice themselves for anyone, let alone those who mocked and scorned. I would never permit it to happen. But, God did, for me, for you, for all of us who are so unworthy. Regardless of who the greater sacrifice goes to, God and Jesus love us far beyond what we deserve and today is a day to honor and thank them.

So, as I sit here trying not to cry, I am so overwhelmed with my love for my God, so overcome with gratitude and thanksgiving. When Jesus hung on that cross His last words before descending to hell were, “IT IS FINISHED”. He decreed and declared in that closing moment, that final breath, that death, sickness, disease, depression, sin, and everything else the devil brought into the world, was defeated.

I will never be able to fully and completely thank the Lord my Savior for all He has done for me, but I will spend my life honoring Him, glorifying Him and magnifying Him.

I have handed my life over to Him because He gave His for me.

Thank you Lord, for it truly is finished!

“And the angel answered and said unto the woman, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen.” -Matthew 28:5-6