SATURDAY April 9, 2022

Passion Week

“…for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Luke 19:10

As Christians around the world prepare to celebrate Passion Week, I would like us to follow Jesus closely, to step into the events that lead us to His death on the Cross and His powerful Resurrection. The Son of Man came to seek lost sinners––sinners who would die in their sin and be lost for all eternity if it were not for His passion. Jesus stepped out of eternity and stepped into our world––into our lives to pursue us.

You see, God’s plan of salvation existed before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). God’s Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, left heaven and took on human form (Philippians 2:5-11). He was God in human flesh. As a humble Servant to mankind, Jesus taught, healed and ministered to multitudes of people who gathered to hear Him from the small cities, towns and villages surrounding the Sea of Galilee. During the three short years of His earthly ministry, the name of Jesus spread far and wide, and He became famous among the multitudes that constantly thronged Him.

At first, Jesus was well accepted among the people, but he was hated by the Jewish religious leaders––the Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes. These religious elite despised Jesus and wanted Him dead. They planned murderous plots to rid themselves of His authority, His rebukes, and His seemingly blasphemous doctrine. These pious leaders were reputed to be guardians of the Law, yet Jesus would expose their hypocrisy to the Law. These blind guides had no genuine relationship with God, only vain religion and manmade traditions.

Although the Pharisees continuously sought opportunities to entrap Jesus, He escaped their murderous plots. Jesus would lay down His life for sinners when it was time, in accordance with prophecy. Later, at the tender age of thirty-three, Jesus would face the Cross. When His hour came, it was to be a time of great suffering to be endured.

Therefore everything that you enjoy in Christ–as a Christian, as a person who trusts Christ–is owing to the death of Christ.
~John Piper~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!