But why did he come? There is a lot more to it, but we are given a clue in Hebrews 12:2:
Because of the joy awaiting him, [Jesus] endured the cross, disregarding its shame.
And what was the joy awaiting him? (Sorry, as a professor I can't help but to ask questions!)
A little background is required here. At the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden (3) (hinted at at the beginning of the video in this post, or at this link: http://youtu.be/gmnSnNC8UJk?list=FL54WMG1VODIB2lLnCmBkn5w), something profound was lost. We lost our ability to commune with our Creator - God.
But God lost something too...
He lost us.
And losing us was more than He was willing to bear. He loved us too much to not offer a rescue, even though such a rescue would be costly.
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| Adoration of the Lamb, painting by Jan van Eyck (1432). More information at: http://www.artbible.info/art/large/187.html |
He came to pay a debt he didn't owe, because we owed a debt we couldn't pay.
Back to the question: What was the joy awaiting Jesus by enduring the cross?
The joy awaiting him was relationship with US...our restoration with God for eternity, for those who receive him! (5)
He finds JOY in making us whole! (6)
No wonder the Bible is about Him, that so many songs have been sung and so much has been written about Him, and that so many lives have been transformed by Him throughout the centuries.
What a comforting truth to hold onto at Christmastime and throughout the coming year!
Footnotes:
(1) Matthew 1:18 to 2:12.
(2) Philippians 2:6-11:
Though [Jesus] was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
(3) Genesis 3and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
(4) For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 1 Peter 1:18-21
(5) Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12
(6) Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.
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