As we walk through Passion Week, we should take time to reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus. But when did Hid sacrifice truly begin?
If you ask any Sunday School Child, “What was the sacrifice of Jesus?” most of them will quickly reply, “He died on the cross for our sins.” Come to think of it, that’s what most of us would say. And while that answer is true, it doesn’t really cover the depth of His sacrifice, does it? Was the sacrifice of Christ really just a physical one? His death on the cross fulfilled the requirements of the Law for redemption, but His sacrifice went even deeper than what He physically endured on the cross.
The Hollywood rumor-mill says Mel Gibson is preparing a sequel to the Passion of the Christ about the days after the resurrection. How many of you saw the first film? If you haven’t seen it yet, let me warn you… [SPOILER ALERT] I wouldn’t rate it among the top ten date movies. You’d be better off with The Notebook or even Terminator II.
Gibson’s goal in The Passion was to offend your senses. The film was so violent and so graphic that it’s difficult to imagine anyone experiencing that much suffering for anyone else. I literally thought I would throw-up during the flogging scene and found myself surprisingly glad when Jesus finally died so His suffering would stop.
It was horrific. Gibson undoubtedly accomplished his goal, but by concentrating on those few terrible moments, the movie may have missed the full scope of His divine sacrifice.
Christ’s sacrifice didn’t begin at the cross. It didn’t begin with His emotional prayer at Gethsemane or with His arrest in the garden.
As we reflect on Christ’s sacrifice, we must think back to the beginning of the Gospel message. Jesus was God before He was born as a child in Bethlehem. Heavenly hosts that worshipped and adored Him surrounded him, but He surrendered that place of perfection to enter this world on a rescue mission.
Consider the words Paul wrote to the Philippians:
Though [Jesus] was God,
Philippians 2:6-8 (NLT)
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
No, Christ’s sacrifice didn’t begin at the cross or during the days leading up to his torture.
The pain of Christ’s sacrifice didn’t even begin when He left the perfection of Heaven to be born among the filth of animals.
His sacrifice started before the beginning of time when God, the Father, Son, and Spirit made a single remarkable decision.
Jesus is not the New Testament version of the Trinity. He did not spend thousands of years waiting for His turn at bat. Scripture tells us that all of creation is created for and by the Son. It was Christ at the burning bush, and it was Christ who made a sacrifice at the moment He created man.
God had two choices as he breathed into Adam’s lungs. He could create a slave-like race of followers (a perfect world but without the possibility of love) or He could give us free-will.
Scripture’s clear that no man can come to God without His prompting, but there is an element of free-will within that calling. Love cannot exist without choice, and God so intensely wanted a personal relationship with us, He gave us the ability to reject Him. Now, for those who like to argue, statements like that often fuel debates about predestination vs. free will, but whether you’re wearing a John Calvin pin or have an official Arminius Fan Club card in your wallet, Christ’s sacrifice at creation remains the same.
Imagine the moment God breathed life into Adam. The world was perfect, and Adam loved God with everything that he was. But even in that first beautiful moment when Adam looked into the eyes of his Creator, Jesus knew the betrayal that way coming. He knew the cost of what He’d given Adam.
Those He loved would only repay Him with disregard and disobedience.
God watched as humanity took His gift of perfect love and abandoned it.
He watched, knowing the cross would now wait for Him to reclaim us.
And He watched, knowing most would still reject Him even after the cross.
All this for Love.
This is where Christ’s sacrifice began—a sacrifice of rejection and sorrow for love.
When we celebrate the resurrection of Christ that brings us life, do we recognize the sacrificial nature of Christ’s character? He didn’t suffer for a weekend, He has suffered since the beginning of time, all for the possibility of a true relationship with His creation.
Does the way you live your life honor that sacrifice?
Pastor Masters — Blessed once again by the spiritual feast at your “table.” Thank you.
“[Christ’s] sacrifice started before the beginning of time when God, the Father, Son, and Spirit made a single remarkable decision.”
Powerful statement and powerful post, Joshua. It certainly brought home Jesus’s sacrifice for me — just as “The Passion” did when I first saw it.
Great points, Joshua. I have often marveled at the fact that after Jesus ascended back to heaven He was in a different form than He was before coming to earth as a baby. Now He is in heaven in a glorified body with the scars from crucifixion. And He will have those forever. This is a love our human minds cannot comprehend.
Oh, the pain of our suffering Lord! What an incredible grief He must have borne and what joy when death was defeated.
Peace and grace,
Tammy
Such a thoughtful reflection, Joshua. The sacrifice Jesus made is beyond our ability to describe, but I love your words, “His sacrifice started before the beginning of time.”
Such a beautiful, loving tribute to our Lord.
Incredibly important, Joshua. To think of the full scope of Jesus’s sacrifice is profound and can only make us feel incredibly blessed and loved. Thank you!
What a superb post! You’ve brought all of this amazing theology together and have explained it in such an easy and uncluttered way so as to make this reality so clear and winsome and welcoming. Well done, brother! In addition to shedding light on this amazing truth of the reality of Jesus’ sacrifice beginning before time, you also brought in humor to diffuse the argument before it began. I loved this: “whether you’re wearing a John Calvin pin or have an official Arminius Fan Club card in your wallet, Christ’s sacrifice at creation remains the same.” Amen! Yes, it did! Such a lovely post! Thank you!
I still remember the pain of watching The Passion for the first time. It is humbling to so graphically realize the pain and suffering experienced by Jesus because of my sin. Your message is also humbling. Although, I’ve recognized in the past how my behaviors bring sorrow to Jesus, I have not stopped to think that he experiences that rejection from the beginning of the human race and as long as humans exist. What a burden! At this time, it’s appropriate for us to remember that. Thank you, Pastor Joshua.
Oh, this caught my heart. Thank you. He sacrifice was incredibly great and such a sign of His deep and full love for us.
What a thought provoking and powerful message! Thank you for this special post.
A hundred “Amens” Pastor Joshua. God’s sacrifice for us began before He created the first Adam. So very well said sir. We need to reflect on all that God gave up for love. Thank you for this heartfelt reminder.
“He didn’t suffer for a weekend …. ” Wow – powerful thought, Joshua! Thanks for the reminder that the choices I make and the life I live doesn’t always honor Christ’s sacrifice.
It is hard to imagine the grief Christ must feel every time humankind turns from him. There are so many crucible moments, as well as in the daily decisions we make to either turn towards him or away from him. I am so thankful he loves us with a steadfast, relentless love and is so filled with compassion and grace. He is a God who loves us so much that he was willing to face sacrifice and eventually die for us.