Object of Love

I just wanted to take a quick minute to throw down some thoughts on here - hopefully to help me process.

This week, is passion week - the week that we as Christians celebrate the last days of the life of our Savior. Sunday, millions will gather to praise the God who left us with an empty tomb.

As I began this week, I thought it would be fun to read the last week of Jesus' life from one gospel account each day. So Monday I read Matthew's; Tuesday - Mark; Wednesday - Luke; and today I will read John.

As I have read through the last week of Jesus' life, a few things have impacted me that I wanted to share. First, his last week was filled with trials. And I don't just mean him standing before the high priest and Pilate. It's amazing as you read from the triumphal entry to the resurrection, Jesus' last week is extremely difficult. You would think he would go on vacation, get away to mentally prepare himself for the tough task ahead, or coast for a couple of days.

But that is not what He does. He is in the temple each day, teaching and confusing everyone. Loving on people, getting the Passover ready, essentially taking care of business! And He is about to conquer sin, death and set us free!

Also, it has been hugely beneficial for me to see how restrained Jesus was.

Imagine, just for a minute having the power to create the world, and the very creation YOU MADE defying you, spitting in your face, whipping your back and ACTING like they have the power over you!

Imagine the legions of angels standing by - simply waiting for a nod from their commander to rescue him and slay the pesky humans who were destroying the love of their life...

Imagine the restraint Jesus showed to avoid revealing himself in true splendor, power and might...

Imagine the struggle it would have been to allow the sin to descend upon Jesus - the only one undeserving of that punishment and weight. What an unfamiliar feeling, to feel the burden of sin...

Imagine the unbelievable anguish of feeling that separation from God. I think that was probably the worst. We don't get it, because we were born in a fallen world, with a nature inclined to sin - so we don't grasp the absolute perfect relational intimacy that we have waiting for us in heaven. Jesus had that, He knew it well. And in that moment, Jesus became sin - and felt the weight of loneliness and separation from the Father.

Imagine feeling a love so great that you were willing to go through everything mentioned above...

Imagine being the object of that love...

We truly are the beloved!