"NO MAN TAKETH IT FROM ME, BUT I LAY IT DOWN OF MYSELF." Willingly our Lord laid down His life, to bring us to God. He, the Son of God, had such a design in all His sacrifice, labours, and sufferings for our sakes. By nature we are far from God, opposed to God, afraid of God; consequently we are far from happiness and peace. Jesus knew the blessedness of being with God, and being like God. His love to His people led Him to desire for them the same blessedness. His desire was so strong that He was willing to do or to suffer anything in order to put them in possession of it. He therefore voluntarily suffered for our sins, and put them away by the sacrifice of Himself. His aim was to bring us to God honourably, and to keep us with God eternally. He brings us to God on the throne of grace. Here we receive pardon, obtain peace, and enjoy paternal love. At this throne we have a bountiful supply for all our wants, the fulfilment of great and precious promises, and sweet manifestations of God's loving favour. He will bring us to God on the throne of glory. Then we shall be perfectly holy and eternally happy. Then He will be satisfied and we shall be satisfied too. That which satisfies Him, will satisfy us, and in our satisfaction He will rejoice.

For Meditation:
Yes, Jesus left the realms of day,
Suffered and shed His blood;
The awful ransom price to pay,
And bring us back to God!