Upon coming up out of the water, Jesus bowed in prayer on the river bank. A new and important era was opening before Him. He was now, upon a wider stage, entering on the conflict of His life. Though He was the Prince of Peace, His coming must be as the unsheathing of a sword. The kingdom He had come to establish was the opposite of that which the Jews desired.
THE CONTRADICTIONS OF HIS LIFE | |
He Who was the foundation of the ritual and economy of Israel | would be looked upon as its enemy and destroyer. |
He Who had proclaimed the law upon Sinai | would be condemned as a transgressor. |
He Who had come to break the power of Satan | would be denounced as Beelzebub. |
No one upon earth had understood Him, and during His ministry | He must still walk alone. |
Throughout His life His mother and His brothers did not comprehend His mission. Even His disciples did not understand Him. He had dwelt in eternal light, as one with God, but | His life on earth must be spent in solitude. |
As one with us, | He must bear the burden of our guilt and woe. |
The Sinless One | must feel the shame of sin. |
The peace lover | must dwell with strife, |
The truth must | abide with falsehood, |
Purity must | abide with vileness. |
Every sin, every discord, every defiling lust that transgression had brought, was torture to His spirit. | |
Alone | He must tread the path; |
alone | He must bear the burden. |
Upon Him Who had laid off His glory and accepted the weakness of humanity the redemption of the world must rest. | He saw and felt it all, but His purpose remained steadfast. |
Upon His arm depended the salvation of the fallen race, and | He reached out His hand to grasp the hand of Omnipotent Love. |
Father: Thank you for the gift of Jesus. Thank you Jesus for the gift of life and for what You endured for me and for Your mediation in the Most Holy Place right now. By Your grace I choose to let go of this world and to follow Thee. Amen.