Scripture: Hebrews 1:3 “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honour at the right hand of the majesty of God in heaven.”
Observation: Jesus’ Job description is pretty amazing:
· Radiate God’s glory
· Express the character of God
· Keep the whole universe running by the power of your command
· Cleanse humanity from their sins.
· Then, have a seat!!
It’s as if Jesus couldn’t possibly rest until His task on earth was done – as if the pinnacle of His attainments, the height of His achievements, was to cleanse us from our sins. It was the driving force in His life, His greatest desire. Radiating God’s glory wasn’t enough for Him. Being the expression of God’s character wasn’t enough for Him. Sustaining the universe wasn’t enough for Him!! No. He couldn’t rest until the task of cleansing us from our sins was completed. He couldn’t rest until He had made the way clear for humanity to be restored to the Father through His own sacrifice. He couldn’t rest until He was able to declare from the cross: “It is finished!!!” Then, & only then, would He return to Heaven, to sit in His rightful place at the Father’s right hand.
Application: Since I surrendered my life to Jesus, His sacrifice for me has always held immense significance – life & death significance. But I’ve never really thought of the significance it held for Jesus! I know that it was significant for the Father – He so loved the world that he gave His Son. I know the Son, in love & obedience, chose to give Himself. But the thing that strikes me here is that the Sustainer of my world & beyond couldn’t rest until the job was done!! Here was a sense of urgency. A sense of the imperative! He could have chosen to scrap the whole world & start again – instead He chose to die for me as though there wasn’t a choice – it was too important to Him to consider not doing it! My response to such love? Anything I can do in response seems so inadequate – but what I can do is what He has asked me to do - live with His sense of urgency to share His love with those around me. Live with His sense of the imperative to share the transforming power of the Gospel that others might experience for themselves the freedom of being cleansed from their sins!!!
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thankyou that you SO loved the world that you gave your only Son. But thankyou, Jesus, that the task of cleansing me from my sins was so important to you that you couldn’t rest until it was completed. Help me to have a similar sense of urgency to share your sacrifice with others. I know the time is short.
In Jesus’ name
Amen
Sue Otto
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