Jesus has you in mind
Then Jesus began to teach his disciples: ‘The Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law. He will be put to death, but three days later he will rise to life.’ He made this very clear to them. So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But Jesus turned around, looked at his disciples, and rebuked Peter. ‘Get away from me, Satan,’ he said. ‘Your thoughts don’t come from God but from human nature!’ (verses 31-33)
Read Mark 8:31-38
Jesus was filled with a passion for all the people of the world. His one desire was to bring them back into a love relationship with the heavenly Father, and he knew that it had to be through his selfless sacrifice. He knew that no other death could bring this about. It had to be his. That’s why he continued on the road that day, and that’s why he rebuked Peter so severely. He was ready to oppose Satan’s plan to undo it all, and he handled it with godly power.
Always remember that Jesus had you in his eyes as he kept on walking to the cross. He remembered you, even though you were not yet born, because the sacrifice he was about to bring would end the rift between you and your Creator God forever. That’s why your relationship with your heavenly Father is now so real, and that’s why Jesus is your Saviour.
Jesus, thank you for remembering me that day when you were on your way to Jerusalem to be crucified. Thank you for going all the way, because now I am saved. Amen.
by Len Tscharke, in ‘God’s Peace for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2006)
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