Gave up… (John 19:30) 171008
When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit. (John 19:30)
It is finished. Jesus had finished what He needed to do on earth and returned to His Father in heaven. He had come to earth, born of a virgin, grew up as a son of a carpenter, humbly being baptized by His cousin, ministered among the poor and the sick and the sinners, calling people to repentance and put their faith in Him, taught His disciples and empowering them to the work to come, submitted to the will of His Father by journeying to the Cross from the garden of Gethsemane, and even gave up His spirit.
It is finished for Jesus, but a new beginning for us. Jesus gave up His spirit, so that we can take on a new life. Jesus gave up not only His spirit, but His entire being. He gave up His throne in heaven and came to earth. He gave up His status as the Creator to be in the womb of His Creation. He gave up His right to be the Son of God and became a son of a carpenter. He gave up His authority to baptize but to be baptized by His Baptist cousin, Johnny. He gave up being served and ministered by host of angels but He chose to walk the street, touch the lepers, raise the dead, welcome the sinners and wash the feet of His disciples. He gave up His ability to do it Himself by sharing the joy of His ministry with His disciples by empowering them to do so. He gave up His will to go in the opposite direction of the Cross so that our sins can be forgiven by His blood shed on the Cross as the nails pounded through His hands and legs. He gave up everything and finally, He gave up His spirit so that we may be able to receive the Holy Spirit promised by Him for us to have a new life. He gave up, so that we can have them all.
As I reflect and process the truth of Jesus actually gave up all He could have for my sake, my heart soften. I cannot explain or give a clear description of what is happening; it is as if my heart weakens and come to a realization of what Jesus has really done for me. It reminds of the day I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. It was the story of His crucifixion which touched my heart so deeply that I felt a pain and heard the voice of Jesus asking me: What is my response? You know the answer, I responded to Him and put my life in His hand and today, you are reading what I am writing. Jesus has transformed my life. From one who does not like English language at all to one who has been writing devotional blog for past two years, He has performed a heart transplant surgery and life transform makeover. It is all because Jesus gave up Himself.
It is easy to give up on things you do need, but another story to give up things which are dear to you. It is easy to give away $100 if we have $10 000, but it will be a challenge to give $10 if we only $20. It is easy to give up our sleep to care for our children when they are sick (though may not be true all the time), but try to stay awake during an overnight prayer meeting. It is easy to give up holding grudges against your naughty children (though again may not be true all the case), but try to give up holding grudges against the one who cheated all your saving into investing in a bank which gone bankrupt.
But Jesus gave it all up for you and for me. I don’t think it is easy for Him either. But He did it anyway because of the love He has for His Father and for us. We can give up ourselves too, unless we have love for God and the people around us. A mother will give up her $10 for her son to buy his favorite toy, because she loves her son. A father will give up his sleep to pray for his dying daughter at a overnight prayer meeting, because he loves his daughter. An old lady will give up her right to hold grudges against the agent who mislead her to lose all her savings, because she loves God more than her money.
You can give up for Jesus too as Jesus gave up…
HHS…
Abel…
