Ephesians 2:3-7 says, “…all of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”
Why would Jesus give up his comfort? Why would he give up his glory? Why would he step down from the heavenly realms-down from eternity to take on flesh and to experience suffering? Why would anyone want to choose to suffer or to live less than the best they can live?
The answer is simple. It is found in verse 7: “in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” Jesus knew that the sufferings he would experience on this earth would pale in comparison to the glory of redeeming the children of God, for the sole purpose of it being the Father’s will to show them his kindness for all eternity. God desired to lavish his riches and grace upon us, but it could only come at a great cost. It wouldn’t be free. It would cost him everything.
For this very reason Jesus put on his eternal glasses, submitted to the Father’s will and stepped down.
Tonight, as I write this simple truth, I am stunned and humbled. We need to ask for the Holy Spirit to give us revelation and understanding to truly grasp this in a way that changes our lives. You see, Jesus didn’t come so we can celebrate holidays about him. He didn’t come to remove our sin so we can turn back to our sin as a dog returns to his vomit. Jesus came so that we could die to our sin through faith in him and then rise again with him in his resurrection power.
His death, every stripe, his wounding was for my sin, my transgression and my punishment. He took it because he knew the end game. He knew that this was playing for keeps- for eternity- and eternity with us is worth it.
Right now, as I write this, billions of people around the globe are struggling with anxiety and fear over Covid-19. Many grieve the loss of freedom, the loss of relationship, the loss of autonomy, the loss of normalcy, the loss of health, the loss of peace, the loss of security and for some, the loss of loved ones.
Hebrews 2:14-15 “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”
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Yet, this Good Friday, will I agree with Jesus? Will I agree with his choice and will I comprehend his sacrifice? Will I know that giving up temporary comfort, peace, relationship and even life itself for a glorious eternity and relationship with God is worth the sacrifice?
Or will I continue to cling to this life, with white knuckles, eyes squeezed shut and teeth clenched, not knowing that this life is but a passing, painful vapor that leads to the most beautiful eternity I could ever know?
Why the anxiety? Do we know the God we serve? Do we have his mindset? Do we celebrate Good Friday as religious people who find comfort in tradition or as transformed people, set free by the Living God for a call greater than all we own and everything else that defines us? To be called children of God- what could be a greater call?
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How can we be scared to go to heaven? How can we be scared of eternity, when Jesus was so eager to come to earth to live as a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief to make a way for us to live with him forever? He had his eye set on the prize- to show us incomparable kindness forever. Do you know what else he gives us, according to Ephesians 1? He brings us incomparable power- the same mighty working of his power that raised Jesus from the dead lives inside of the believer, yet we mourn for our fallen idols, as if we have no hope.
Do you have this hope of eternity? Do you know the power of Christ that transforms and changes the heart of stone into a heart of flesh, or have you just embraced Jesus for the monetary blessings or the promises of the good life here on earth?
Where are your treasures? That is where your heart is. Jesus’ treasure is clear. His treasure is us. Jesus told a very religious man who wanted to understand the way to heaven (notice that just being religious does not necessarily mean you know the way to heaven?) that we must be born again. He laid out the treasure map to God’s kingdom in John chapter 3, “For God so loved the World that he gave his one and only Son that whosoever believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life.” Do we treasure him? He died for us, why don’t we live for him by the power of his Holy Spirit?
All of the signs of prophecy and all the signs of the times we live in show the certain soon return of Jesus. He is at the very door, yet this will scare some people. If we are scared of the second coming of Jesus, how can we rightly celebrate the first? Let us ask the Lord today to give us eternal eyes and eternal ears to see and hear what he sees and hears. Let us ask God to forgive us for the sin we love so dearly and to be transform us by the power of Jesus.
Why is Good Friday called good? Because God’s heart is to redeem his children. Good Friday is our adoption day!
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If you have never been adopted into God’s family through his son Jesus Christ, put your trust in him today. Give him your life, ask him to cleanse you of your sin and to raise you up in his resurrection power. He will do it!
Join us for more discussion of Good Friday through worship, prayer, adoration and Bible study at 10 AM on Zoom. This is a special addition of our Zoom calls. Normally we study Revealed in Ephesians the Mystery of Who I Am in Christ. This Friday, we will enjoy a special observation of the day Jesus gave his all so we could live. 🙂 Join us!
For information on the Revealed Ministries Bible Study, you can access the study on Kindle or order it via Amazon. If you can’t afford to purchase the study, message me and I will buy you the Kindle version.
You can join us on a laptop (I highly recommend, so that you can see the screen sharing of scripture and text.) You can also join via phone, if you don’t have access to a laptop. We will worship at the beginning, take testimonies and prayer requests, then get into the study. Here is the information on the study:
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Topic: Revealed in Ephesians Bible Study and Prayer Time
Time: Mar 27, 2020 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Every week on Fri, until May 8, 2020, 7 occurrence(s)
Apr 10, 2020 10:00 AM
Apr 17, 2020 10:00 AM
Apr 24, 2020 10:00 AM
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May 8, 2020 10:00 AM
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