God So Loved the World
It is difficult to empathize with the sacrifice of Jesus and understand the things that God experienced in the salvation of sinners. Each of them is unique and without equal; The two of them enjoy a position creatures of flesh and blood will never completely understand. We are given parables in scripture to furnish us a comparison by which we may be able to begin to understand. Yet, while we may be able to use earthly illustrations, they cannot begin to fathom the depths that God lowered himself to give eternal life to sinners.
There are many persons in scripture, such as Moses, David, Elijah and the apostles. They are all called righteous, yet we must remember that these people, though their sacrifices and deeds were historically great, do not compare with the work of the Christ on the cross. The love of God offered in the sacrifice of His Son was by no means a “walk in the park.” This suffering is represented in the passion he exhibited in Gethsemene, in the trial before Pilate, in the torture before his crucifixion and the cross.
The “King’s” feast, represented today by the parabolic act of communion (or the Lord’s supper) displays the love of God and should be considered seriously, with a sober mind. Spiritually each Christian will experience the things that Jesus suffered. It is, in a sense, a right of passage from this life to the one to come. The temptations, the challenges, the betrayal and the final demise of us all will – to one degree or another – be like our savior. The body of flesh and the fleshly mind will be tried to the point of breaking. Yet, this life will end in the triumph of eternal life in the presence of God.
The Scriptures admonish the Christian not to practice the “communion service” lightly. This is a warning:
“When one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
They all with one consent began to make excuse. [1]The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused (pride of life). [2] Another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused (lust of the eye). [3]Another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come (lust of the flesh). So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
The servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper (Luke 14:15-24; See also Matthew 22:11-14) (the second death).”
Those who put their trust in Jesus the Christ will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit living in them and will have the comforter promised by the Son of God to give grace to withstand the coming trial of faith. “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways (Psalms 91:11).”1
This is the promise of God to those that follow the Lord Jesus through death and resurrection:
“Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee [Messiah] in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation Psalm 91:9-16).
The temptations the enemy threw at Jesus were all based in the twisting of God’s words to men. It was only by understanding Gods Word that Jesus was able to thwart those attempts. The Song of Solomon paints a picture of divine love and devotion. It is often overlooked as a poem of earthly pleasures, but it, like all of God’s Word, displays the passion given to men, from God’s image. Yet, even that word – passion – has been twisted and turned in on itself to mean something it was never intended to mean.
Be careful of your words. Be careful of the Word. Do not let men intercede between you and the things of God, because men will seek to bend the word to fit their will. Seek rather to bend yourself to God’s will, and you will find love.
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42
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