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JESUS THE OBEDIENT SACRIFICE
SATURDAY, MAY 6
Philippians 2:1-8

John 15:9-14

 

“…he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death…”

 

JESUS THE OBEDIENT SACRIFICE
 
The humility of Christ is evident not just in His incarnation as a man, but it is seen also in how He willingly submitted Himself to a most agonising death on the cross at Calvary.
 
The purpose of Jesus’ incarnation was so that He could die to make an atonement for our sins. God the Son willingly agreed to come to this world, to be sacrificed on the cross in order that man can be saved. He knew that it was necessary that He as both God and man, bear the punishment for man’s sin, and it would be only through this death that the penalty of sin could be atoned for. Therefore, “we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Heb 2:9).
 
It was for this sacrifice that Jesus “humbled himself, and became obedient unto death.” Realise that Jesus could have easily escaped death if He wanted to. It was not because Judas outsmarted Him, or that He was overpowered by the Roman soldiers. It was something that He knew was coming, and He obediently submitted Himself to the hands of wicked men to be put to death. As Jesus had explained in John 10:18: “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again…”
 
A proud and selfish man would never be willing to make such a sacrifice. He would feel that his own life is far too important to give up. In his eyes, no one, and no cause, is worthy enough for him to give up his life for. In fact, for most of us, we are not even willing to give up our own comforts and luxuries for the sake of others, not to mention make the ultimate sacrifice of death. Jesus never thought that way. He did not think His own life was something too great to give up for the sake of mankind. Even though we are terrible sinners, unworthy to warrant even His notice, yet He willingly suffered and died, so that we can live.
 
THOUGHT: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
PRAYER: I thank Thee, Father, for the perfect obedience of my Saviour, Jesus Christ.

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