LOVE OF CHRISTSpeaker: Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran Gist: The Lord is with us as IMMANUEL Today we shall meditate on the love of Jesus Christ and His sufferings for us.
…"the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head"(Matthew 27:27-30).
The above passage clearly describes the sufferings Jesus Christ had to bear for us before being crucified on the Cross.
A pastor narrated an incident that took place in England when a German prince came to England and visited the Buckingham Palace. On the walls of the palace the portraits of the Kings who ruled England were hung in order. The prince from Germany was taken around the palace and was shown the portraits of the Kings. Seeing a particular portrait, the prince was taken aback. He was much troubled seeing this picture and enquired: Who is this King? Why is he hanging on the cross so pathetically? Why this man alone is crowned with a crown of thorns instead of a golden crown? Why is it written above his head the words, “Jesus, the Nazarene is the King of Jews?” The one who escorted him explained the life of Jesus Christ to him in detail and the prince was moved by the love of the Lord for the people and gave his heart to the Lord Jesus Christ.
“The mystery of Godliness …God was manifested in the flesh”(I Timothy 3:16). As the Bible says, the invisible God, who could not be seen, came down to this earth as an ordinary man so that you and I could recognize Him and know Him. Isaiah the prophet, who lived a thousand years before, knew that He would be manifested in the flesh and the Lord of the Lords taking the form of a human being, would dwell among us as Immanuel and prophesied this( Isaiah 7:14). Immanuel means God with us (Matthew 1:23).
The Bible says, “God is love” (I John 4:8, 16).
“Greater love has no man than this, to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13).
Jesus said,“I lay down My life for the sheep” (John 10:15).
According to these verses, He gave His life for us on the cross in Calvary and therefore, we know His love for us. Yes, God wanted to reveal His loving heart to the people of the world and that is why He came down to the earth as love personified.
Prayer:
Loving Father,
I thank You for Your awesome love for me. Thank You for sacrificing Your son for me on the Cross. Lord, I have been made whole by Your blood, I have been made righteous by Your blood and I can stand boldly before the Throne of Grace. I thank You for the protection, healing I have by Your blood. In Jesus name I pray.
Amen.
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