DEVO 04.04.26

DEVO. 04.04.26

“Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭53‬-‭54‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

- The men had come to arrest Jesus.

- They grabbed Him.

- Tension and violence escalated very quickly!

- One of Jesus disciples pulled out his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest's slave.

- Then Jesus said, “Put away your sword”

- Jesus said, “Don’t you realize? I have thousands of angels at my disposal! They are ready!"

- All Jesus had to do was ask His Father and they would instantly come and settle this!

- But, no!

- Jesus sees the bigger picture!

- Jesus knows the spiritual implications of doing this!

- You can’t expect spiritual victory when you turn it into a physical fight.

- Jesus knew why He was there.

- He knew His assignment.

- The Prophet Isaiah said, “He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.” (Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭7‬)

- He realized that He had to go to the cross and take on the sin of the world.

- He knows that He was the Passover lamb.

- He knew that He had to be rejected, beat, spit upon, stripped of his clothing, tortured and nailed to a cross and die!

- Literally die!

- Because He realized the bigger picture!

- 1 Peter 2:24 says, “He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By His wounds you are healed.”

- ‭‭Without wounds, there is no healing.

- If He didn’t carry out sins, they would be left on us!

- And, without a death, there is no resurrection!

- Today, let’s praise Jesus that He didn’t settle for a temporary escape from pain, but He took on the punishment and death so that we could truly live!

- Jesus realized the bigger picture!

- And that picture has you in it!

- “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬)

- Have a great weekend!