It really is quite beautiful the story of the King who came to die.
He came off His high and lofty throne and made His dwelling among us. He left His perfect, sinless Kingdom for our mockery and shame.
"Who, being in the very nature G-d, did not consider equality with G-d something to be used to His own advantage; rather He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!" [Philippians 2:6-8]
The most agonizing and humiliating way to go; It was at that point He went to the lowest of lows, for by His loss our redemption revealed.
He did all this for you and for me. We no longer have to live with shame or guilt of our past or wrong doings, no, He endured the pain, He took the scorn that I so deserved.
It was only His pleaded cry and sacrifice that would suffice. A pure and spotless lamb, brought before the slaughter.
He took our lying, our cheating, our abuse, our beating, our thievery, our murder, our hate, and our sickness. He made it His fate. He became the target for G-d's wrath. Are you doing the math? We don't deserve this, I don't deserve this.
All of this done, so that you and I may "…approach G-d's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." [Hebrews 4:16] To bring us into right relationship with the Father of Lights, Oh glory, what a sight! No longer being separated from His perfection because of the wrong we have done, no, this was made our connection, our name was made clear. We have been given free access to an intimate relationship with the creator in whom we draw near.
This beloved, was radical and reckless.
Oh how He cleaned up such a mess.
Scandalous love. Scandalous grace.
Scandalous: public outrage by a perceived offense against morality or law.
Grace: the free and unmerited favor of God.
It is completely in every way NOT what we deserve, yet what Jesus Christ gives us by His death and resurrection – this is our so valued protection. Between G-d and man, there is no longer strife, let the dawn arise, for we have been given life. This is my certainty for all of eternity.
"Therefore G-d exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is L-rd, to the glory of G-d the Father." [Philippians 2:9-11]
With Christ we have been made one, so for all of you I say come.
He says here Son, here Daughter, Come to the throne of Grace, for Beloved this is your place.
Jesus Christ – Our Redeemer, the Great I AM, King of Kings, L-rd of L-rd's, the Messiah, the One we have waited for!
