Devotion:
Read Matthew 27:31-44.
Jesus sacrificed so much for all of us and everybody else. Philippians 2 tells us that he first sacrificed (“emptied himself”) of being only God and became human. He became vulnerable. He became poor. He sacrificed popularity and pleasure and earthly power when he rejected the temptations presented to him early in his ministry. He sacrificed being protected by his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, when they wanted to fight for him at the time of his arrest. Not only did he sacrifice their attempted protection, but he let it be known he could have had access to twelve legions of angels. He experienced physical pain of various kinds throughout his life as a human here on earth. Then, in both the flogging and crucifixion, he endured some of the most searing pain that can be inflicted on a human being.
Finally, he sacrificed his life. He gave himself completely to God, taking on the sin of the whole world to save us all.
Jesus did not just teach about sacrifice. He did not just tell everybody else that they needed to sacrifice. He set the example for that teaching throughout his life, culminating on a hill outside of Jerusalem.
Jesus sacrificed so much for all of us and everybody else. Thanks be to God.
Personal Worship Option:
Meditate on the words of these two verses from the hymn “When I Survey The Wondrous Cross,” written by Isaac Watts:
See, from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.
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