so that he could save
February 23, 2011 (Wednesday)
I took a little stroll through the first few chapters of the Gospel of Mark, and found out that Jesus had problems related to his ministry from the very first. As soon as he started preaching in Capernaum, and performing miracles, the people began coming to him in such great numbers that he didn’t have a minute to himself. He actually did not have a chance to eat a meal. In the midst of such “assaults” by the crowds, he also faced opposition from the religious leaders. They accused him of despising their customs, violating their laws, and despising their traditions. On the one hand people were demanding his help; on the other hand some were demanding he cease and desist. Besides the overt opposition, his enemies were plotting to kill him.
You know, Jesus could have qualified to play the part of Alexander who had a “Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.” He could have started feeling sorry for himself, saying, “I didn’t come to put up with these selfish, self-centered, self-aggrandizing people. I’m quitting right now.” But he didn’t. He put up with them for the next three and one-half years, until they finally put him to death.
Why didn’t he quit? Why did he never give up? Why did he continue to perform the mission for which he was sent into the world? Perhaps a glimpse into his thinking came later on, when he was nearing the end, fully aware that he was about to be crucified. What he said then revealed what was in his heart, and what had kept him steadfast and faithful, doing the will of his Father. He said, “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour” (John 12:27 NIV). He said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Luke 9:22 NIV). And why? What was the real reason Jesus was willing to endure so much? Here is what he said it was: ” The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10 NIV).
So that was it. That was why he was willing to endure all the indignities, inconveniences, dangers and threats along the way, and why he was “obedient to death,” nailed to a cruel cross. He did it all to save the lost. He did it for me. He did it for you. Do you believe?