Pastor Caroline - August 25, 2021 - His Sacrifice

 

His Sacrifice

 

As Jesus prayed in Gethsemane he knew his time on earth was coming to an end. He knew the sacrifice he was about to make was close at hand. In Mark Chapter 14 Verse 36, we are told Jesus said this;

(36) “Father”, he prayed, “my Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want”.

This is the reading found in the Good News Bible.

 

When we offer a sacrifice we give up something precious, or at least this is one meaning of the word. You may have said over your lifetime, that you would sacrifice anything you have or own for the sake of your children. And I am sure you would.

 

Jesus poured out His life – let’s look at Isaiah chapter 53 versus 10 to 12, again taken from the Good News Bible.

(10) The Lord says;

“It was my will that he should suffer;

his death was a sacrifice to bring forgiveness;

And so he will see his descendants;

he will live a long life, and through him my purpose will succeed.

(11) After a life of suffering, he will again have joy;

he will know that he did not suffer in vain.

My devoted servant, with whom I am pleased,

will bear the punishment of many

and for his sake I will forgive them.

(12)And so I will give him a place of honor,

a place among great and powerful men.

He willingly gave his life and shared the fate of evil men.

He took the place of many sinners

and prayed that they might be forgiven.”

(We are among those many sinners, forgiven because of his sacrifice.)

 

God sacrificed the life of Jesus, His son, for all His children. We are those; who Jesus poured out His life for. He took our suffering, the pain we deserved because of our sin, and carried that sin to the cross giving up His life for us. He sacrificed His own life so that we may be forgiven our sin, Jesus, our redeemer and Savior! His death was not a murder, He was not executed, and He did not commit suicide.  It was a true sacrifice, He gave up His life in the most self-giving love anyone could offer. His love and His blood has covered our sin – once and for all.

For all who will receive Him as Lord and Savior.

 

We say thank you Lord for the greatest sacrifice ever made. For every heart that has accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour over the past 2000 years and many more years to come, we say thank you. Lord, only the sacrifice of Your precious son could have made this possible.

 

I am reminded of a chorus we sing in church, perhaps you know this as well;

Thank you Lord for saving my soul

Thank you Lord, for making me whole

Thank you Lord for giving to me

Thy great salvation so rich and free.

These words were written by Seth and Bessie Sykes.

 

Our God is amazing and what a Lord we serve. Do we sacrifice our all for Him? Do we truly comprehend the magnitude of this sacrifice? We must thank Him everyday for the sacrifice of His life that offers us life eternal.

Isaiah 63:7a  says:

I will tell of the Lord‘s unfailing love;

I praise him for all he has done for us.

 

So let us tell the world of this wonderful sacrifice, His sacrifice. A sacrifice that assures us of our eternal home when we accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

Praise His wonderful name!!