As we enter Passion Week, here is a devotion that calls us to step back and take in the “rest of the story.” As we do, only then can we understand the full extent of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross:

IN WORD Long, long ago in a distant garden, God and humanity had perfect fellowship. We can only imagine what that was like, being so far removed from it today, but we can be sure that it was an incredible experience. God’s will was clearly known, His voice clearly heard, His presence clearly sensed. There was no need to diverge from His perfect path. There was enormous freedom to be completely, authentically human in His presence, with no shame involved. There were no unfulfilled desires and no disappointment. Humanity was in perfect harmony with the heart of God.
That all changed, of course, when a slithering liar created the illusion of unfulfilled desire and tricked humans into developing a will independent of their Creator’s. The results, as we know, were tragic, and we still feel the consequences of them today. Each of us has followed the path of our first parents; we all, like sheep, have gone astray and turned to our own way.
We became ruled by self-will and grew more blind and more deaf to the voice and the presence of God. Our senses dulled to the point where many of us have even wondered whether He exists. We became like patients in intensive care whose nutritional supply has been cut off, and we were slowly slipping away.
That’s why the Messiah came, suffered, and died. We needed a life transfusion, and the only way to get it was for life to be drained from the Living One and given to us. Our death was reversed because a human not worthy of death came to us and died. His Resurrection overcame the disaster of our self-will. We no longer need to go our own way.
IN DEED The Shepherd could have cut His losses and let His sheep wander into oblivion, but He didn’t. He came after His straying flock and brought us back into His pasture. When we understand what really happened in our fall and redemption, we can’t help but marvel. Our fate was worse than we thought, and our salvation is greater than we think. All that’s left is gratitude and love. “A true Christian is a man who never for a moment forgets what God has done for him in Christ.” — John Baillie (in “God with Us” by Chris Tiegreen)

This week, read Genesis 1-3, Isaiah 3, and Hebrews 8-9, a chapter each day. Take time to reflect on what Jesus did to restore us fully to an intimate, eternal relationship with our heavenly Father. Have a blessed and meaningful week! - from Singapore, Pastor Sam