'Appreciating God's Love'
Final Week of Jesus
Sweated Blood at Gethsemane
Luke 22:44 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Men in the olden days had to work hard till they sweated in their faces to be able to eat from the ground. Today, the poor are fearful of their inability to provide the next meal for the families, and even the rich are fearful that their wealth may disappear with rebellions and wars, especially World War 3.
God knew of men's fear in facing the uncertainty of the future, so out of His great love for His children, He Himself, volunteered to suffer the excruciating pain on their behalf.
He called on the angel to strengthen His physical body not to give way. He suffered far beyond the endurance of the human body until His tiny blood vessels ruptured to become blooded sweats falling onto the ground.
With this curse broken, Christians can now commit their future into the Father's hands. We can rest assured of food and provision for He is our Father and Provider.
Gen 3:19 "In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return."
Chastised for our Infirmities
Luke 23:13-16 Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, said to them, "You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. I will therefore chastise Him and release Him "
Our Lord knew that it was prophesied that it was only by His stripes that the people can be healed of their hurts, pains and sicknesses.
Pontius Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent of the crime which the Jewish priesthood out of jealousy, had falsely accused Him
So God instilled into Pontius Pilate to chastise Him so that when the Jews saw Him suffering such excruciating pain, out of compassion, they might spare His life.
We thank God for Jesus who suffered on our behalf so that He heals us by taking all our pains, worries, sorrows and sicknesses when we humble ourselves before Him.
Isa 53:3-5 He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 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.
Blood from Crown of Thorns
Mark 15:17-19 And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and began to salute Him, "Hail, King of the Jews!" Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him.
Why did Jesus allowed the Roman soldiers to torture Him with the crown of thorn?
Before His dead, again He blessed men by offering Himself to suffering the extreme pains caused of the thorns and thistles in life.
In life, we will always meet wicked and evil people who will either obstruct or hurt us in our pursuits. Many will steal our contracts by crooked means and there are those who revile us with lies and falsehood.
Jesus shed blood caused by the thorns of crown and thistles to break the curse so that Christians today can forgive even their enemies, cheats and competitors.
Nothing can hurt us now, for His pains caused by the thorns and thistles has healed and comforted us.
Gen 3:18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field.
