Jesus, I Give You My Heart - Part 566

In the scriptures, we read that the chief priests in consultation with the elders, scribes and the whole council at the time mocked Jesus. Indeed, on the cross where they had crucified Jesus, they had nailed a sign stating, "THE KING OF THE JEWS." (Mark 15:21) Collectively, they passed by Jesus hanging on the cross, railing on Him and wagging their heads saying, "Ah, thou that destroys the temple and buildest it in three days, save thyself and come down from the cross."

Further, the chief priests and scribes laughed among themselves saying, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Prior to this, Pilate had asked Jesus, "Art thou the King of the Jews?" At one point, Pilate who marveled at Jesus and thought Him blameless had even asked his advisers, "Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?"

But the chief priests -- full of envy of the miracles and healings that Jesus had performed -- cried out "Crucify Him." And so Pilate willing to content the people delivered Jesus to be crucified. And they clothed Him with purple and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about His head, and began to salute Him, "Hail, King of the Jews." And thy smote Him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon Him and bowing their knees worshipped Him.

And when they had mocked Jesus enough, they took off the purple from Him and put His own clothes on Him and led Him out to crucify Him. They brought Jesus unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. And they gave Him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but He received it not. And when they had crucified Jesus, they parted His garments casting lots upon them, what every man should take. And it was the third hour when they crucified Him.

Because Jesus was crucified at the same time as two thieves,one on the right and another on His left, the scripture from the old covenant was fulfilled. That is, "And He was numbered with the transgressors." (Mark 15:28) What is important to note is that throughout the accusations being made by the chief priests and scribes to Pilate, Jesus answered nothing other than to later say, Father forgive them for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34)

Indeed, what the accusers -- the chief priests, the scribes, the elders, the council -- did not know is that this very moment -- whereby the King of kings and Lord of lords would shed His precious blood on Calvary for our sins -- was decided even before the world was framed. The gift of salvation whereby our Father -- the God who created this world -- and you and I too -- had destined that He Himself would become flesh and die on a cross so that we might be saved.

In the beginning God. (Genesis 1:1) In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God and the Word became flesh. (John 1:1-14) This is the miracle of grace, that our God who created us -- who we in our ignorance have rejected so often -- was still willing to let His humanity die on a cross so that we might experience life abundant in Him. The gift of salvation decided even before we were formed in our mother's womb.

It is no wonder Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God to come, craved the body of Jesus. It is no wonder that he brought fine linen and took Him down and wrapped Him in the linen and laid His body in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door. It is no wonder Mary Magedalene brought sweet spices to anoint Him and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where He lay. They knew that there is no greater love than the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.

Indeed, Jesus of Nazareth was the King of the Jews. At any point on the cross, Jesus could have destroyed the earth. But that would have defeated His predestined purpose and as a consequence, we would not be saved by His grace. Romans 10 states, "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

This is why we worship Jesus. And honour Him. As we read in the scriptures, the destroyer of our souls -- the enemy spirits that determine to keep our hearts and souls entrenched in this earthly world, never saw it coming. The evil spirits could not understand why Jesus -- the King of the Jews -- did not get down from the cross. They did not understand that when Jesus shed His blood on the cross  for our sins, it was so that we could walk freely in Him. Experience the paradise that exists in Jesus and was intended for us from the beginning of time.

This is the promise of salvation. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39) Stand in the offering plate.