There's a song from the '70's or '80's, part of which goes "We were the reason He suffered and died..." but before I go any further, let me just say, He [Jesus] chose to do this.
The point of the song is that YOU were sufficient reason for the Son of God to come, live, give Himself up for you on the Cross, and rise again so that you might have everlasting life. It's true, you know. YOU are the "why" of the Cross and the resurrection, and Jesus chose this so that you could have His Life in you.
That's the main message of Easter.
Oh, yes, it's built around the death and resurrection of Jesus, but the reason was YOU. Jesus didn't die just for "the sins of the world," in some general way, but for YOU. You, personally. You. This is what you (and I) need to focus on during Easter--that you were the aim and focus of His life, His death, His resurrection.
I have this theory, that at some point in His life (at His death), Jesus saw what He would accomplish when He died and rose, and that what He saw was each of us. You. Me. Individuals who would realize that He died for them personally, and that the Christian life is a personal, individual life that belongs to Him and [you].
I take this from a passage in John 10, where Jesus tells His disciples that the "Good Shepherd" "calls His own sheep by name," and leads them out. YOU are the one. YOU are the person Jesus is calling. YOU are His focus. He's thinking about YOU.
This is why, if you are hearing His call to you, don't turn it down. Don't think that it's "for everyone," in the same sense that you go to some restaurant, and know that dinners are prepared for whoever shows up. It's not. It's for you. Personally. It's as if the restaurant is open, and they are waiting to prepare YOUR meal. To take care of YOU.
Jesus said, Come to me, all you who are burdened and weary. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, and you shall find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
And: "I have come that they (each of His people) might have life, and that they might have it abundantly.
You can go on being empty, or you can know and understand that Jesus has prepared a life full of blessing for you, and know that you have a special place at the dinner table, so to speak, prepared just for you, and take your place where you belong.
Come. Be a part of the Kingdom of God. It's been prepared just for you.
You are the reason...
The point of the song is that YOU were sufficient reason for the Son of God to come, live, give Himself up for you on the Cross, and rise again so that you might have everlasting life. It's true, you know. YOU are the "why" of the Cross and the resurrection, and Jesus chose this so that you could have His Life in you.
That's the main message of Easter.
Oh, yes, it's built around the death and resurrection of Jesus, but the reason was YOU. Jesus didn't die just for "the sins of the world," in some general way, but for YOU. You, personally. You. This is what you (and I) need to focus on during Easter--that you were the aim and focus of His life, His death, His resurrection.
I have this theory, that at some point in His life (at His death), Jesus saw what He would accomplish when He died and rose, and that what He saw was each of us. You. Me. Individuals who would realize that He died for them personally, and that the Christian life is a personal, individual life that belongs to Him and [you].
I take this from a passage in John 10, where Jesus tells His disciples that the "Good Shepherd" "calls His own sheep by name," and leads them out. YOU are the one. YOU are the person Jesus is calling. YOU are His focus. He's thinking about YOU.
This is why, if you are hearing His call to you, don't turn it down. Don't think that it's "for everyone," in the same sense that you go to some restaurant, and know that dinners are prepared for whoever shows up. It's not. It's for you. Personally. It's as if the restaurant is open, and they are waiting to prepare YOUR meal. To take care of YOU.
Jesus said, Come to me, all you who are burdened and weary. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, and you shall find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
And: "I have come that they (each of His people) might have life, and that they might have it abundantly.
You can go on being empty, or you can know and understand that Jesus has prepared a life full of blessing for you, and know that you have a special place at the dinner table, so to speak, prepared just for you, and take your place where you belong.
Come. Be a part of the Kingdom of God. It's been prepared just for you.
You are the reason...
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