TUESDAY March 26, 2024
The Cross on the Horizon
Then He [Jesus] said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.” … And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”
Mark 14:34, 36
Each day the time grew closer to Christ’s death by crucifixion. Jesus’ soul was extremely sorrowful. He knew the Cross was on the horizon––the hill of Calvary. He voiced His deep sorrow to His Disciples and agonized in prayer. He asked His Father if this cup of suffering could be taken away. Did the shedding of His blood on the Cross have to happen? Could the price for man’s redemption be paid another way?
There was no other way, so Jesus submitted His will to the Father’s and set His face as flint: “For the Lord GOD will help Me; therefore I will not be disgraced; therefore I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed” (Isaiah 50:7). Jesus knew He would carry the weight of man’s sin on the Cross. As our Savior, He would fulfill the words of Isaiah the prophet: But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities... (Isaiah 53:5).
Knowing all things, Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, and He would stand trial before the Sanhedrin. He would suffer. They would spit on Him, beat Him, and mock Him. The next morning, before Pilate, Jesus would be falsely accused and condemned to death. He would suffer scourging––His flesh would be ripped apart––and sinners would crucify Him.
On the Cross, for a moment, Jesus would be forsaken by His Father. A holy God could not look upon sin. The pain of that one instant is prophesied in Psalm 22:1: My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning?
Think about the magnitude of Jesus’ suffering on the Cross. All His pain and suffering were endured because of God’s great love for you! The reason for why He died was all for you.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
~John 3:16~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
