The only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ, left the glory of Heaven and came down to our world. He became human, walked among us, and lived a life just like ours. He was betrayed for a small sum of money, condemned for crimes He did not commit, mocked, beaten, and ultimately died a painful and shameful death on a wooden cross. But why? Why would the Son of Almighty God go through all of this? What could possibly be worth that kind of suffering?
The Apostle gives the answer: “Look 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).
Lord Jesus wasn't focused on the pain or the shame. He wasn't dwelling on the injustice or the betrayal. He had His eyes fixed on the joy that was set before Him. And that joy, my friends, was you. That joy was me. That joy was our salvation, our reconciliation with God, our eternal life with Him.
Lord Jesus endured the suffering of the cross because He knew what it would accomplish. He knew that through His sacrifice, we would have the opportunity to live in communion with our Heavenly Father. He knew that after death, there would be resurrection, not just for Himself, but for all who believe in Him. He saw beyond the cross to the glory that awaited, to the countless lives that would be transformed, to the eternal joy that would be ours through His victory.
Friends, this is the key to overcoming challenges and difficulties in this life. Just as Lord Jesus kept His eyes on the joy set before Him, we, too, can find strength in our own trials by keeping our eyes on Him. When you're in distress, when you're facing worry, suffering, or persecution, don't get stuck in the moment. Lift your eyes to the One who sits at the right hand of the throne of God. Look unto Lord Jesus, the leader of our faith, the perfecter of our faith. Let Him be your joy, your strength, your hope.
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