APRIL 15, 2025 ~ FROM A PASTOR'S HEART

APRIL 15 DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READING: JOHN 10:11-18

It is a fact of life that we all will die...only One did not have to die, but He chose to die for us. Jesus is eternal God who came in the flesh and when Pilot told him that he had power to take Jesus' life, Jesus said, "No one has the power to take My life, I lay it down and I will take it up again.” Jesus is the only one that ever had a real choice concerning death, and He chose to give up His life for us. It wasn't the power of Rome or the Jewish religious leaders that put Him on that cross. It was His love for us. No nail could have pierced His hand if He didn't want it to. Death had no power over Him. He willingly gave up His spirit. Only Jesus had such power. Only Jesus could legitimately choose to either live or die. He loved us sinners, so He chose to die.

We are told in the Scriptures that Jesus willingly went to the cross and that He did not utter a word. Does the Bible contradict itself, because we know there were at least seven different things Christ said on the cross. There is no contradiction. Jesus is the one true God who spoke all things into existence. By His word all things exist, and by His word all things would cease to exist. Yet He chose not to speak such a word. He could have called a legion of angels, but it was not necessary, for He could have just said, "STOP" and all things would have ceased to exist. He did not speak a word. Instead He chose to give Himself to die for our sins. What love is this? How great is His love for us, that He who didn't have to die, did so for us? He died so we sinners could know real life. He died so we could have eternal life. He chose to die in our place so we would not have to experience eternal death. No one ever loved us like Jesus. He demonstrated that love in that while we were yet sinners He chose to die for us!

Please share your thoughts.