One at the Cross
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one." (John 17:20-22 NIV)
In some ways, the pandemic has kept us separated, but, oddly enough, it has also brought us together. We have gained shared experiences among family members and friends, and even with people all over the world. We have found new ways to communicate with each other, even if we cannot be physically present. We have found ways to reach out to each other to provide for each other's material and emotional needs. We have been drawn together by this whole event.
There was another event that drew the world together, that happened two thousand years ago: Jesus dying on the cross. Although few realized it at the time, if at all, Jesus' death on the cross was for the whole world. He died on the cross to offer Himself as a sacrifice for all sins, past, present, and future, for everyone in the world. He died on the cross to show that God's love extends to all people in every place and time, rather than just one particular group of people. He died on the cross to demonstrate how far God was willing to go to show His love and commitment to all people. He died on the cross to show that God's love and acceptance embraces all people, as He stretched out His arms on the cross. His sacrifice was meant for all, saves all, encompasses all, and embraces all.
And at the foot of the cross, we are all united. We all share one experience, regardless of any other factors we may try to use to distinguish or divide ourselves from each other. All divisions cease and disappear in one common experience - the experience of being redeemed and saved by Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. All are invited and welcomed at the foot of the cross, and none are excluded or turned away. There is also room at the foot of the cross to include everyone, and everyone who believes in Jesus belongs at the foot of the cross alongside other believers. We praise Jesus for His death for us, for welcoming and loving us, and for reaching out to welcome and love others as much as He loves us.
Jesus' arms are also stretched out to welcome and invite those who do not yet know Him or believe in Him. He is constantly reaching out, even today, to all those who are searching for something meaningful, someone to accept them just as they are, to forgive them of all guilt and shame they have, someone to free them from addiction, someone to heal them from an illness, someone to comfort them after a loss, someone to resolve a conflict for them, someone to love them unconditionally, someone to show them the true meaning of love, someone to welcome them, someone to accept them without any expectations of rules or perfection. That someone is Jesus. He is constantly inviting everyone who is seek all or any one of those things to come and experience Him and His love and acceptance.
We are Jesus' arms, who stretch out, even as we gather at the foot of the cross, to welcome all who are searching, who need forgiveness, who are lonely, who are discouraged, who are defeated, who are tired, who are sad, who are doubting, who are unloved, who are unwelcomed. We welcome others and love them, as He has welcomed and loved us. We make room for all those who seek to join us at the foot the cross, because there is plenty of room to include everyone. We
Dear Jesus, thank you for reaching out in love to me, and all people, on the cross. Help me to reach out to and love others as you love me. In your Name, Amen.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one." (John 17:20-22 NIV)
In some ways, the pandemic has kept us separated, but, oddly enough, it has also brought us together. We have gained shared experiences among family members and friends, and even with people all over the world. We have found new ways to communicate with each other, even if we cannot be physically present. We have found ways to reach out to each other to provide for each other's material and emotional needs. We have been drawn together by this whole event.
There was another event that drew the world together, that happened two thousand years ago: Jesus dying on the cross. Although few realized it at the time, if at all, Jesus' death on the cross was for the whole world. He died on the cross to offer Himself as a sacrifice for all sins, past, present, and future, for everyone in the world. He died on the cross to show that God's love extends to all people in every place and time, rather than just one particular group of people. He died on the cross to demonstrate how far God was willing to go to show His love and commitment to all people. He died on the cross to show that God's love and acceptance embraces all people, as He stretched out His arms on the cross. His sacrifice was meant for all, saves all, encompasses all, and embraces all.
And at the foot of the cross, we are all united. We all share one experience, regardless of any other factors we may try to use to distinguish or divide ourselves from each other. All divisions cease and disappear in one common experience - the experience of being redeemed and saved by Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. All are invited and welcomed at the foot of the cross, and none are excluded or turned away. There is also room at the foot of the cross to include everyone, and everyone who believes in Jesus belongs at the foot of the cross alongside other believers. We praise Jesus for His death for us, for welcoming and loving us, and for reaching out to welcome and love others as much as He loves us.
Jesus' arms are also stretched out to welcome and invite those who do not yet know Him or believe in Him. He is constantly reaching out, even today, to all those who are searching for something meaningful, someone to accept them just as they are, to forgive them of all guilt and shame they have, someone to free them from addiction, someone to heal them from an illness, someone to comfort them after a loss, someone to resolve a conflict for them, someone to love them unconditionally, someone to show them the true meaning of love, someone to welcome them, someone to accept them without any expectations of rules or perfection. That someone is Jesus. He is constantly inviting everyone who is seek all or any one of those things to come and experience Him and His love and acceptance.
We are Jesus' arms, who stretch out, even as we gather at the foot of the cross, to welcome all who are searching, who need forgiveness, who are lonely, who are discouraged, who are defeated, who are tired, who are sad, who are doubting, who are unloved, who are unwelcomed. We welcome others and love them, as He has welcomed and loved us. We make room for all those who seek to join us at the foot the cross, because there is plenty of room to include everyone. We
Dear Jesus, thank you for reaching out in love to me, and all people, on the cross. Help me to reach out to and love others as you love me. In your Name, Amen.
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