1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. ~ John 1:1–5
Jesus is the All-Powerful God who created everything, yet for the love of mankind, He laid down His life. “For God so loved the world…” He, with joy, endured a terrible beating at the hands of Roman soldiers while He was tied to a wiping post. He was punched, spit upon, ridiculed, and mocked. He even had His hair and beard pulled out. He was so badly beaten, he was unrecognizable.
Then He was forced to carry His own cross up a hill called Golgotha, which means the place of a skull, according to Matthew 27:33. There, they stretched out his arms and drove nails into His hands and into his feet, nailing Him to a cruel cross. He hung there fighting for every breath, trying to push Himself up so He wouldn’t suffocate. As He strained to push Himself up, the rough wood would tear into His already shredded back.
He went there knowing fully well exactly what would happen to Him. Yet, for the joy that was set before Him, He endured it all. That is how much He loves us. Can we love Him any less? Think about it. He did not have to do that. He very well could have taken another lump of clay and start all over again, but He chose to endure the cross. For the joy that was set before Him, He endured.
LORD God, please help us to set aside our flesh for the joy that is set before us. For the joy of Your everlasting love. Help us to love you more than we love ourselves. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.
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