random musings

the “what” of salvation amazes me. what Jesus did for me, for you. but what amazes me infinitely more is the “why” of salvation. that God’s love for His creation was so strong, that, in spite of our disobedience, in spite of our being aloof toward Him, He loves us. He humbled Himself, the Almighty Creator of all taking on human form, containing Himself in a physical body, a body that bleeds, a body that sweats, a body that fatigues, a body that doesn’t always smell pretty, He humbled Himself for the joy of our company, the joy of a relationship with us. He delights in us. not in our good deeds, not in our pseudo-righteousness, but in us! so much so that for the joy of a relationship with us, He endured the cross, He endured the life leading up to the cross, despising the shame. the word ‘despising’ doesn’t mean Jesus was sitting on the cross, naked and dying, muttering to Himself, “I hate this shame.” the word ‘despise’ is used in the same context as john 12:25, where Jesus says, “he who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.” not that He wants us to hate this life on earth, but that this life pales in comparison with the life that we will share with Him. ‘despising’ the shame means that it didn’t even matter to Jesus. the joy set before Him, a relationship with us, was so great that anything keeping Him from that was not a concern. that is the “why” of salvation. He redeemed us for the joy of our company.