It’s a pretty awesome to think that we serve such a God. He is completely other than us. He is holy. He is perfect. He is the essence of everything good and lovely and sovereign. And He, in His lavish grace and indescribable love and perfect justice, chose to make a way for us to know Him. For we were dead in our trespasses (Ephesians 2:10), alienated from God (Ephesians 4:18), and were blinded to God and His goodness by the devil and our own sin (2 Corinthians 4:4). We were in such a helpless and pathetic state that we did not even know that we needed to be saved. But God saw our need and He planned a way to save us. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to live the perfect live He requires, to die the death required by our sins, and then to come back to life to demonstrate His victory over sin, death, and Satan. God went to great lengths in order to save us. He held back nothing and gave everything (John 3:16). This is the gospel. This is why we celebrate this holiday called Easter. God gave His life for us (1 John 3:16). He willingly set Himself aside, gave up His rights, so that He could do for us what we could not do for ourselves (Philippians 2:5-11).
Jesus Christ did all of this for the joy set before (Hebrews 12:1-2). He was looking to the reward, which we get a glimpse of in the book of Revelation.
“Worthy are you to take the scrollThis is Christ’s reward. He will receive the glory and praise due His name. He desires for every people group to be among this number recorded above in Revelation 5. This is the reward for which He was slain. This is His Bride, the Church. And Jesus deserves all praise and glory.
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. Revelation 5:9-14
So, Jesus, thank You. Thank You for leaving the praises of heaven in order to live on this messy earth as a man for 33 years. Thank You for obeying the will of the Father. Thank You that You chose me from before the foundation of the world and that You did all that was required to save me. Thank You that You are all I need, that You have united me with You forever. Thank You that You are my Hope and Strength, and that in You are found all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Thank You that I know You; that I am Yours and You are mine (!). Jesus, thank You for everything. May my life be a testament to who You are and to what You have done. For You, Jesus, are my Reward.
Your blood has washed away my sin
Jesus, thank You
The Father’s wrath completely satisfied
Jesus, thank You
Once Your enemy, now seated at Your table
Jesus, thank You
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