No 12

(Jesus on the Cross)

In one of our past studies (Prof Zebulon Oct 4 00), we saw that God had made a promise to His Son Jesus “before the world began” (Titus 1:1) that He would give Him a redeemed humanity who would love, obey and serve Him for eternity. However, Jesus had to come to earth and die for that and, as we know, humbly did just that therefore giving the opportunity: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom 10:8). Jesus did it, we came to know about it and we are henceforth assured of our place in heaven. Jesus has the power to save us and He also has the power to keep us: “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:5). On the cross, Jesus bore all the sins of humanity and God poured all His wrath upon Him; it was so unbearable that Jesus said: “My God My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me”? (Matt 27:46) Jesus knew that there would be a temporary separation from His Father because of our sins. Now, let us consider an absolutely amazing reality. Jesus also knew that during that separation, He would not have been able to keep us as He had done, so He entrusted the keeping of us to His Father for a while, until He rose again. “I pray for them: I pray not for the world but for them which Thou hast given Me, for they are Thine…Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one as We are” (John 17: 9 - 11b). You see, our salvation is so precious that Jesus wanted to be sure that we were to be “kept” because He knew that without Him, we would have been easy prey for Satan and his angels. We are so fragile, that even for a few moments, we could have been out from under the protection of God and subsequent death.