Think of his early life: born in a stable, miles away from home; carried by his parents to Egypt for a couple of years; brought up in Nazareth, where perhaps his earthly father, Joseph, died while Jesus was in his teens or twenties. Then he knew hunger and poverty during his ministry; as well as the sorrows of bereavement; suffered the abuse of others; was eventually betrayed by one of his own disciples and then hours before his death, denied by one of his closest friends. He was beaten, spat upon, and ultimately exposed to public shame and crucified. Jesus was not spared at any time during his life.
But Paul saw something more than human sufferings in this drama of the Messiah's life. He felt there was something almost unnatural about it, which haunted him until it eventually became the source of great comfort and joy. He was familiar with God's revelation of himself as the Father of his people: 'I will spare them' God had said through Malachi, 'just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him' (Malachi 3:17). Jesus had served his Father, as a son should serve a father. But contrary to all that is natural, his Father did not spare him.
Yet Jesus deserved to be spared. He did not deserve to experience the cruelty and malice of men in this world. He did not deserve to be poor, or hungry, or to feel his heart breaking as he stood before the effects of sin in man's life. If only we could see ourselves in the light of God's holiness, we would never defiantly ask, 'What did I do to deserve this?' We would know that before God's righteous judgment we deserve nothing good. But Jesus could quite righteously have asked, 'What did I do to deserve this?' In a sense that was the meaning of his cry of dereliction on the cross: 'My God, why have you forsaken me?' Why had he not been spared? In the horror of his loss of his sense of communion with God, nothing seemed to make sense. There, on the cross, it must have seemed as though right had become wrong; good, evil; God's righteousness, the terrible judgment and condemnation of an innocent man.
Yes, Jesus deserved to be spared. Think of what he had accomplished in his short ministry. He had preached about a Father he knew and loved, and who knew and loved him. He had introduced a whole generation of men and women to this Father in heaven. He had healed the sick, given sight to the blind, even on occasion brought men back to life. His words were glorious, his life impeccable, his whole being perfect before both men and God. Everything about him seemed to point to the conclusion: here is One who deserves to be spared.
But Paul tells us Jesus was not spared. And in saying that, he is simply summarizing the teaching of the gospels. Yet almost certainly Paul knew something more than just the fact that Jesus was not spared...Paul knew Jesus had prayed that, if it were possible, he might be spared. In the Garden of Gethsemane, on the night before he was crucified, Jesus had cried to God, apparently in terrible agony, 'Father, if it is possible, let this cup [the sufferings of the cross] pass from me. On the cross he later cried, 'My God...' but in the garden, his appeal was that of a son to a father. What father could possibly fail to grant his child's cry? But Jesus was not spared."
From chapter 6, "The Savior", in A Heart for God by Sinclair B. Ferguson
I was grateful for God to lead me to this reading this week before Easter. As many times as we have heard the gospel story, I want it to be fresh and meaningful every time I read it and contemplate it. What a sacrifice from both God the Father and God the Son to devise this plan, then carry it out. When thinking of the relationship the Father and Son enjoyed, how painful and heart breaking it was for the entire Godhead to endure. But it was done so that I might be brought into the family of God and enjoy eternity with God and his people forever.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
It somehow makes my own heartache a little less significant. If God the Father loves me as much as He loves His Son, and He does, then can't I trust Him to make all things right? That is a rhetorical question with an assumed positive answer.
John 17:23 ~ "I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
Romans 8:32 ~ "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all -- how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"
I didn't have any appointments or obligations on Tuesday so I went and picked up Kasey for another "girl" day. She brought a bag full of horses and was happy to set them up. It's something she likes to do, but she plays with boys all day who get great pleasure in coming along and knocking all those horses over.
We also played Candy Land with 4 year old "rules" or lack, thereof!
We checked out the pond - and there happens to be water in it right now, thanks to all the snow we recently received.
Several things I had been waiting for have finally happened. What a relief to at long last have some closure and check them off my list.
On Friday, I went and got Grace and brought her back to stay with me overnight and all day Saturday. Her birthday is early March but because of school work and other commitments, this is the first time that worked out for her to be free.
On Saturday morning, we went over to see Andy. Some of the residents of the facility were out in the lobby waiting to participate in an activity. But when the activities director saw Grace with her violin, she said they didn't need to do the activity, they would listen to Grace's playing. Of course, when they heard her, they just wanted her to keep playing. She played a number of songs, then we took Andy back to his room.
While we were in there, the activities director came looking for us and asked us to please play some more for the residents. So we stayed a while longer while Grace played everything all over again. Well, since it's a memory loss facility, it didn't matter how many times she played a number. They were happy to sit and listen.
After spending some time there, we went shopping together for her birthday outfit. It was such a nice day, so we had to get in some hiking, too. We went over to The Black Run Preserve and hiked about 3 miles. It was a gorgeous day - perfect for being outside in God's beautiful creation.
We got back to the house in time to prepare for the rest of the family to join us for dinner. Amy and Ricky, Dawn and Tommy, Christy and Christian and all the kids. It can get pretty wild and crazy but I love it.
We ate together, then had an egg hunt for the kids.
Matthew 28:5-6 ~ "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as He said."
Mark 16:6 ~ "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here."
Luke 24:5-6 ~ "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!"
Because God did not spare His own Son, the resurrection could take place. And because of the resurrection, sin and death are defeated, and we will also live again after we die.
He is risen! He is risen indeed!
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