Fear No Fear

“Let us look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and your hearts give up” (Hebrews 12:2-3, MEV). Jesus had to acclimatize to a LOT when He became human. Jesus had to decide that it was worth it to expose Himself to a LOT when He became human. I am sure you’ve noticed how human beings treat each other. It is not always pleasant. While it is true that since we are made in the likeness of God (Genesis 1:26), we have some GREAT qualities. We are capable of selfless acts. We are capable of love and affection. We are capable of empathy. Yet so much of what we do and say relates to ourselves. We act, but often because of how it makes US feel. We get bent out of shape because of how something affects US. And we sadly frame our worldview according to what WE feel, WE think, or what WE assume is the truth. We are a selfish species. Jesus had to embody a body that was exposed to all of that. Instead of automatically living above the storm, He was stuck IN the storm. And He was stuck there for DECADES. Yet He exposed Himself to that general hostility – and later when He look up His ministry very specific hostility – because of what His sacrifice would achieve for US. He acted in a way that someone with a fallen nature cannot easily comprehend. Jesus was SELFLESS. He acted so that WE could benefit. There was no benefit to Him beyond the capacity to have a relationship with us (John 17:3). He didn’t HAVE to do this (John 10:18). He CHOSE to do this. And He chose it before we were around to do anything at all to deserve it (Revelation 13:8). He took JOY knowing that He would be able to meet you, walk with you, and talk with you. He took JOY knowing that He could take you out of ignorance and share His knowledge with you (Colossians 1:13). Out of love for us, He humbled Himself, so that WE could be changed, transformed, and made whole (John 10:10). It was nothing to sneeze at. It was an incredible sacrifice. He did it for YOU. He loves YOU.