Do you ever make sacrifices? I have sacrificed sleep, when I had children. I love sleep. My children didn’t like to take naps as toddlers, so I was always tired. I don’t really consider that a sacrifice, because I love my children. They are a gift from God. I love spending time with them. I love seeing them accomplish their goals. I am so proud of them, that I would never regret any second I spent on them.
That is how God feels about us too. God loves us. Even when we sin, God loves us. God is so good, honest and true, that He cannot love the sin. In the Old Testament, sacrifices were made to God, perfect, unblemished lambs were the burnt offering. It wasn’t enough.
God searched the whole world to find a person worthy, and not one was found. God had to come to earth in human form to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Jesus was persecuted, suffered and died on the cross. But, that is where it all begins. After 3 days, Jesus rose from the dead to be seated next to His Father in Heaven. Jesus is alive and will come again. Anybody that asks for forgiveness of their sins, can have salvation and eternal life in heaven.
Why didn’t Jesus ask God to save Him from all the suffering and torture? Jesus came to earth to save us. He knew what would happen. Jesus thought each of us was worth saving. God gave us a way out of the sin, the ultimate sacrifice turned into the perfect gift.
“Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name.”
Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.
Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” He said this to indicate how he was going to die.
The crowd responded, “We understood from Scriptur that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?”
Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”
After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.
–John 12:27-36 (NLT)
