Monday Morning Encouragement -- Christ's Authority

 

"For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” John 10:17-18

As we enter Holy Week, I'm reflecting again, on the astonishing love of Christ. A love so great, so deep, that Jesus willingly accepted the horror of the cross in order to save the lost. This obedience made the Father love Him even more.

Barnes Notes of the Bible states:

"I lay down my life - I give myself to die for my people, in Jewish and pagan lands. I offer myself a sacrifice to show the willingness of my Father to save them; to provide an atonement, and thus to open the way for their salvation. This proves that the salvation of man was an object dear to God, and that it was a source of special gratification to him that his Son was willing to lay down his life to accomplish his great purposes of benevolence.

That I might take it again - Be raised up from the dead, and glorified, and still carry on the work of redemption."

The cross is central to God's plan of redemption. And there was no other person who could satisfy the required sacrifice  than Jesus Christ. The Son of God, the Holy One, who lived a perfect, sinless life. 

 “When any ordinary man dies he only pays ‘the debt of nature.’ If he were even to die for his friend, he would simply pay a little earlier that debt which he must pay ultimately, but the Christ was immortal, and he needed not to die except that he had put himself under covenant bonds to suffer for his sheep.” (Charles Spurgeon)

Imagine the trust Jesus had to have in His Father that He not only had the authority to give His life sacrificially, but that He also had authority to rise up again in three days. What a triumph! What a victory! Jesus' triumph is our triumph! His victory is our victory! What an awesome Savior!

Today's music video Wonderful, Merciful Savior by Selah is one of my favorite praise songs. I hope you enjoy this beautiful song .

I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.