WHAT IT COST
Over the years, I have often reflected on what it cost Jesus to redeem us, and I am reminded of the unimaginable torture He endured on the day that He went to the Cross. Words that come to my mind to describe His cost are pain, grief, loneliness, sadness, abandonment, torture, and ridicule.
These are only a few words that come to my mind. Though I cannot truly comprehend the suffering that was inflicted, I have also tried to understand the reality of His sacrifice, and I am always left wondering, “Why”? Why would He do such a thing for a sinner like me? Though I ask the question, I know the answer to be that He loved me and still loves me. He loves with such a passion! A passion that compelled Him to endure torture and then take on death, Hell, and the grave so that we could be free from the power of sin. Isaiah 53:3-12 says this of the passion of Jesus:
3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him. 4 Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds. 6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished him for the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before its shearers, he did not open his mouth. 8 He was taken away because of oppression and judgment, and who considered his fate? For he was cut off from the land of the living; he was struck because of my people’s rebellion. 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, but he was with a rich man at his death, because he had done no violence and had not spoken deceitfully. 10 Yet the Lord was pleased to crush him severely. When you make him a guilt offering, he will see his seed, he will prolong his days, and by his hand, the Lord’s pleasure will be accomplished. 11 After his anguish, he will see light and be satisfied. By his knowledge, my righteous servant will justify many, and he will carry their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him the many as a portion, and he will receive the mighty as spoil, because he willingly submitted to death, and was counted among the rebels; yet he bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels.
As we read what the prophet foretold of what Jesus Christ would go through for the redemption of our souls, how can we not be thankful? He stepped out of heaven and took on the form of man and then endured such suffering so that we could be saved. He didn’t just die; —He rose again and defeated death! He is the Champion of Heaven. I am so overwhelmed at the thought of His great love for us.
The song lyrics to Here I Am to Worship (Tim Hughes, 1999) are a great reminder to me:
Light of the world,
You stepped down into darkness.
Opened my eyes; let me see.
Beauty that made this heart adore You.
Hope of a life spent with You.Here I am to worship.
Here I am to bow down.
Here I am to say that You’re my God.You’re altogether lovely.
Altogether worthy.
Altogether wonderful to me.King of all days,
Oh so highly exalted.
Glorious in heaven above.
Humbly You came to the Earth You created.
All for love’s sake became poor.Here I am to worship.
Here I am to bow down.
Here I am to say that You’re my God.You’re altogether lovely,
Altogether worthy.
Altogether wonderful to me.I’ll never know how much it cost.
To see my sin upon that cross.Here I am to worship.
Here I am to bow down.
Here I am to say that You’re my God.You’re altogether lovely,
Altogether worthy.
Altogether wonderful to me
Though we will never truly understand the total cost of His sacrifice, we can still live a life of gratitude for His sacrifice. Philippians 2:6-11 says this:
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Let us confess by our words and deeds that Jesus Christ is LORD!! May we not forget the cost and suffering that took place on the day of redemption. My prayer is that we be found living as a testimony to Him and proclaim His great love for the world until the day He returns. The cost was too great for us to be silent!
Amanda Patterson
Lean into Jesus Ministries
#amandapattersonblogs