This is Jesus!

This is Jesus
In His glory
King of Heaven dying for me,
It is finished,
He has done it
Death is beaten
Heaven beckons me.

Such love, such love

is this for me.

(I want us to just imagine that we're part of the curious crowd of people who followed Jesus around…)

We are impressed with his teaching and expert exposition of Holy Scriptures - such authority! Amazed at how he cleverly answers difficult questions thrown at him. We cheer when demons are expelled at his command and applaud when the lame walk and the blind see. Nothing is impossible for him! Why, he brings even the dead back to life! Do you remember how he raised Lazarus from the dead though he'd been lying in the grave for 4 days?

We're thrilled that he can feed multitudes with a few loaves of bread and still have leftovers in abundance. It warms our hearts to see lepers healed and restored to the community by a single touch. We nod approvingly as he takes little children into his arms to bless them. We marvel that he abandons protocol to mingle with tax-collectors and sinners - people considered misfits of conventional society.

We’re delighted at how he outwits the Pharisees who try to trick Him. We feel vindicated when he exposes the hypocrisy of religious leaders. We tremble at the way he clears the temple of greedy money-changers and dove sellers. What righteous indignation! A daring display of holy anger! Did you hear how he calmed the raging sea? How he walked on water? The people adore this Teacher, this Prophet, one of a kind Healer, Miracle-worker and Master over nature! Why, the crowd went wild, strewing their coats and palm branches before him as he rode into Jerusalem city. This god-man deserves to be King.

(But wait! This isn’t any run of the mill story with a Hollywood ending. This ‘John Wayne’ didn’t ride into the sunset.) We continue our journey.

 What about when he was betrayed by one he called friend? When he was unlawfully arrested and suffered the sham of a court trial? When he was falsely accused yet said nothing in his own defense? When he was sentenced to death without just cause? When he surrendered his body to his torturers to be beaten and spat on? When he offered no resistance and made no last minute appeal? When he looked sadly into the faces of the bloodthirsty crowd that had forgotten all the good he’d ever done? When he silently endured the taunts and insults of brutish unrepentant men? When the soldiers nailed him to the wooden beam where he had to remain till he drew his final breath?

What did you feel?
Disbelief? Disappointment and disillusionment perhaps? A sense of hopelessness? Grief for the way his life was abruptly ended? Anger at the injustice he had to suffer? Maybe disgust because he could not save himself?

As he hangs there, dying, we hear him speak the words that release his murderers from their guilt, 'Father, forgive them! They don’t know what they are doing'.

Our feelings give way to revelation.
Shame. Humility. Awe. Praise. Gratitude. and finally Surrender.

It is there, at the foot of the cross, looking up at his broken and bleeding body that you and I must bow our head, bend our knee and call him … Saviour and Lord.

Because at that moment, we receive an epiphany. All of a sudden, we understand the meaning of grace. And unconditional love. 

John3:16

 ¹⁶ “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

This is Jesus in his glory…. his limelight moment.

Words fail me Jesus.

You are my true hero.
You have shown us the way. Now teach us to follow you.