For This Purpose

Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour? But for this purpose I came to this hour.

John 12:27

Christ came to die. Across the manger in Bethlehem was the shadow of the cross. His whole life was a march toward a specific location. As God, He understood the assignment. He faced the final appointment as a true human. Therefore, He could say, ‘Now my soul is troubled.’ We ought not diminish the effects of the sufferings of Christ by referring to His Godhood. We ought to apprehend that He endured the indignations as fully as a true human can. We can be heartily thankful He was willing to endure such assaults to be the substitute for us. This is what we deserved. That we do not endure it is due solely to His being willing to go through it all to the bitter end. Christ never lost sight of His purpose or lost the nerve to finish what He had started. Thus He could utter His cry of triumph, ‘It is finished!’ We rest upon His finished work. We see His resurrection as the proof of the acceptance of His sacrifice. Our whole dependence for life, for death, and for eternity is wrapped together with this purpose-driven Savior. Therefore, we make much of Him and expend as much effort as we can to make Him known.

Our Glorious Living Christ,
we rejoice in Your perfect life and atoning death.
We praise You that with Your stripes,
we are healed.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning