The only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ, came to our world, became human, lived among people, was betrayed for a small amount of money, was condemned for the crimes he did not commit, was mocked, suffered, and died a painful and shameful death on a wooden cross. But why? Why did the Son of the Almighty God go through all of this?
The Apostle gives the answer to this question. “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).
Jesus Christ suffered all this for the joy set before Him. That joy is you; it is me. For our salvation, Jesus endured the suffering of the Cross. Jesus lived, died, and was resurrected with the hope and joy that we too will live in communion with our Heavenly Father and after death be resurrected together with all the saints at His Second Coming.
Our Lord Jesus also gave us the best example of how to be strengthened and overcome the difficulties of this life. When we are in distress, worry, suffering and persecution, let us, like Him, direct our eyes to the joy that is before us. And our joy is the leader of our faith and its perfecter, Jesus Christ, to whom be glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
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