Rejoice. Be content.

Sometimes we claim that we have to do something. After much reflection, we realize that we don’t have to be the one to do what needs to be done. It just needs to be done whenever by whomever as long as it’s done.

Jesus didn’t have to die on the cross, by any man’s measure of justice. After much consultation with his Father in heaven, they agreed on one thing: something needed to be done. They needed to agree on one more thing: Jesus, being the one to do it. Only one time was set aside for it. Only one person was allowed, authorized and qualified to do it: Jesus, dying on a cross for the forgiveness of the sins of the whole world. Jesus the highest priest, Jesus the sacrifice, God, his Father being pleased with the sacrificial offering which brings full reconciliation, full record of payment of dues to which sins had subjected mankind.

It was not that Jesus enjoyed pain, that he agreed to die on a cross. Instead, he realized the gravity of what needed to be done. He made it a reality for us to behold. Maturity is not doing what one enjoys. Maturity is doing what one enjoys seeing done.

“All done.” – Jesus said on the cross.

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17)

“in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)

That is the source of our joy. Not that we enjoy what was done, an innocent man being done injustice by mankind. Instead, we rejoice in the door that has been opened by way of His death, His burial, His resurrection, His ascension, the descent and indwelling of the Holy Ghost in us to assure us of the forgiveness of our sins, the unconditional love of God for us. The love that, not even death or any sufferings ever known to mankind can ever separate us from God.

“When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.” (John 16:21)

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)

Jesus, being Lord of the past, the present and the future, he knows and has seen what would transpire following his suffering.

Rejoice. Be content. For you know what will transpire following all your sufferings: our resurrection by God’s Spirit through Christ to God.