Can you imagine being stripped of your clothes, a crown of thorns placed upon your head, a scarlet robe placed upon your body and a reed placed in your hand . . . all in mockery?
Can you imagine being spit upon and then being smote on the head by that same reed you were holding?
Can you imagine the robe coming off, your own clothes put on, but the torture still isn't over?
Can you imagine being beaten and whipped so severely that your skin is ripped from your back?
Can you imagine carrying your own cross to your execution, but being so injured that someone else has to carry it the rest of the way?
Can you imagine being crucified on that same cross, feeling the nails being pounded into your hands and feet, and being mocked even more - yet still having the compassion to pray: "Father forgive them for they know not what they do"?
Can you imagine suffering the pain and death of the cross so that others could have life?
Can you imagine knowing that some would still doubt you, some would never love you, and some would never make any commitment to you - yet still be willing to lay down your life and become the ultimate sacrafice for their sins?
Can you imagine your body being taken down from upon the cross, wrapped in linen, and placed in a sealed tomb guarded by soldiers?
Can you imagine arising from the dead on the third day, death being swallowed up in victory?
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, but He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him: and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
Can you imagine not giving your all to a God who was willing to give his all for you?
I can't.
Can you imagine being spit upon and then being smote on the head by that same reed you were holding?
Can you imagine the robe coming off, your own clothes put on, but the torture still isn't over?
Can you imagine being beaten and whipped so severely that your skin is ripped from your back?
Can you imagine carrying your own cross to your execution, but being so injured that someone else has to carry it the rest of the way?
Can you imagine being crucified on that same cross, feeling the nails being pounded into your hands and feet, and being mocked even more - yet still having the compassion to pray: "Father forgive them for they know not what they do"?
Can you imagine suffering the pain and death of the cross so that others could have life?
Can you imagine knowing that some would still doubt you, some would never love you, and some would never make any commitment to you - yet still be willing to lay down your life and become the ultimate sacrafice for their sins?
Can you imagine your body being taken down from upon the cross, wrapped in linen, and placed in a sealed tomb guarded by soldiers?
Can you imagine arising from the dead on the third day, death being swallowed up in victory?
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, but He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him: and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
Can you imagine not giving your all to a God who was willing to give his all for you?
I can't.
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Betsy
Melba