Wednesday’s Word
by Dorette Saunders
During Passion Week or Holy Week our thoughts turn to Jesus as he lovingly shows us how to live, and how to die.
When Jesus washed the feet of his 12 disciples, including the one he knew would betray him, we learn that the love of Jesus defies explanation (John 13:1-17). Who among us would show such love and humility to someone who would do us grave harm?
When Jesus asked God to forgive those who would carry out his execution (Luke 23:34), we learn that Jesus’ love for humankind cannot be truly understood. Who forgives like Jesus does? No one. Yet, the Scriptures tell us that we need to adopt the same mindset of Christ (Philippians 2:5) so we will be able to show love and forgiveness to others.
We get a close-up view of the heart of Jesus this week as never before. True we have seen him in the last years of his life heal the sick, raise the dead, feed the hungry, cast out demons, preach and teach, and even defend himself from the vicious, verbal attacks of his detractors.
But one day this week would be different. That day he would suffer at the hand of people he came to save. That day his followers would desert him. That day he would experience death…a brutal, shameful, tortuous death on a cross. That day he would be separated from his loving Father because that day your sin and mine—the sin of the whole world—would be placed on him.
In his humanity, Jesus struggled with the thought. He was overwhelmed with anguish and begged God, if it were possible, to remove that task from him (Luke 22:42). But, Jesus knew this was the reason why he came to earth, and in obedience he said that he wanted God’s will to be accomplished.
That is the heart of Jesus laid bare. That is the heart of the One who was willing to give up his life for each of us. There is no other heart as loving, as merciful, as tender as the heart of Jesus.
This is why we love Jesus—because he first loved us—with a magnanimous heart. Yet, thank God that’s not the end of the story. Jesus’ death and resurrection gives us hope of an eternal home in heaven with him.
Now, we anxiously wait for our Lord’s return when we shall see him face to face. In the meantime, we learn to love those around us. We learn to forgive. We learn to be like Jesus. We learn to be obedient to God’s will and let God change our hearts.
PRAYER: Father, give us a heart that will obediently say yes to your will. Give us a heart that loves Jesus. Give us a heart that loves you and your Word. Give us a heart that rejoices that Resurrection Sunday is coming when we will worship and adore the One who loved us with all his heart. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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