How fitting is this day to read from this section of Scripture. Some great reminders of the goodness of Jesus hidden here for us to dig out. Let me say, I have experienced some amazing moments in life, but there is nothing more refreshing than hearing the voice from the Lord when I sit before Him reading, praying, and talking with Him.
Look at Joseph’s response to his brothers, “But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.” Genesis 45:5
Jesus said something similar after He had been betrayed by a friend (Judas) with a kiss, illegally tried before the High Priest (religious leaders), beaten beyond human recognition by Roman soldiers, spat on and ridiculed (by Romans and Jews), carried a cross as far as humanly possible with a crown of thorns and wounds on His back, and finally hung on a cross. (By the way people did not necessarily die from their wounds on the cross but from asphyxiation).
Never once was He guilty of anything. Yet Jesus took this type of punishment so that you and I would not have to. The prophet Isaiah pens these words hundreds of years before Jesus would walk them when he prophesies, “Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.” Isaiah 53:4-7
Joseph was innocent before his family; Jesus was innocent before the world. Yet God, the Father, sent Him before us to preserve everlasting life for all who would put their trust in His sacrifice. Much like Joseph’s heart here, Jesus’ heart was the same even after all He endured,
“And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.” Luke 23:33-34
‘Father, forgive them’. In our crowded lives many do not realize what they are doing, for some when they do, it will be too late. Many make choices every day that blind them, distract them, and they are manipulated by the enemy. Even the follower of Jesus was once the same. Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
Today praise Jesus for what He did, spend time mediating on the heart He has for people. The Father, Jesus, did this knowing that some would still reject Him. Along with that, make the effort to share with someone the great news of a risen Savior who wants nothing more for them to know Him as much as He knows them.
- To Know Him. To Live on Mission.