I think it quite appropriate that I copied this from a friend on Facebook, and post it here.
The Man Christ Jesus is an indescribably awesome marvel to me. Besides considering the infinite condescension He made just by becoming one of us, exchanging His outward, glorious form as the only begotten Son of God for a tabernacle of dust, let us also think about the life He had to live for our sake. It is beyond our ability to completely fathom. Jesus had to live a life of absolute perfect humanity in order to become the author of eternal salvation for us.
"Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; 9 And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him (Heb 5:8, 9)
As He grew in wisdom and favor with God and man, Jesus became consciously aware of His mission to perfect humanity and the realization that the salvation of all was 100% dependent upon Him. What enormous pressure!
Yet, in the face of this pressure, the overwhelming odds leveled against Him, with all the demonic host and wicked men allied against Him, Isaiah prophesied that:
"He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for His law (Isaiah 42:4)
Nor be discouraged! Just wow! The apostle Paul wrote of Him:
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb 12:2)
He had great joy set before Him - the joy of one day seeing the redeemed host of men and women, boys and girls, who will live forever in glory with Him. For this He considered the cross a small thing - He despised its shame. And while knowing that this was the death He was ultimately headed toward, carrying the enormous burden of being our perfection His entire lifetime, He was still constantly going around helping other people with their infinitely smaller burdens - whether that was encouraging those fighting the good fight of faith or pleading with sinners to turn to God. Please read the following excellent words about Him.
"...Often He met those who had drifted under Satan's control, and who had no power to break from his snare. To such a one, discouraged, sick, tempted, and fallen, Jesus would speak words of tenderest pity, words that were needed and could be understood. Others He met who were fighting a hand-to-hand battle with the adversary of souls. These He encouraged to persevere, assuring them that they would win; for angels of God were on their side, and would give them the victory. Those whom He thus helped were convinced that here was One in whom they could trust with perfect confidence. He would not betray the secrets they poured into His sympathizing ear (Desires of Ages pg 91)
And Jesus did all of this while patiently and sinlessly enduring the attacks of evil men against Himself. The very people who He was trying to save were attacking Him, against their very own interests! Yet He prayed, even for His murderers, "forgive them Father, for they know not what they do!" It is hard to wrap your mind around Him. He is a marvel of marvels!
"Of the bitterness that falls to the lot of humanity, there was no part which Christ did not taste. There were those who tried to cast contempt upon Him because of His birth, and even in His childhood He had to meet their scornful looks and evil whisperings. If He had responded by an impatient word or look, if He had conceded to His brothers by even one wrong act, He would have failed of being a perfect example. Thus He would have failed of carrying out the plan for our redemption. Had He even admitted that there could be an excuse for sin, Satan would have triumphed, and the world would have been lost. This is why the tempter worked to make His life as trying as possible, that He might be led to sin (Desire of Ages pg 88.2)
What an indescribably incredible man Jesus was and still is. After all, the Bible says He is still this same Jesus! By incarnating, the Son of God gave us a perfect representation of the character of His Father. He revealed what the Father would be like if He had become a man Himself because, as His only begotten Son, He was the perfect reflection of Him - like Father, like Son, as the old saying goes.
So think of Jesus - consider Him and the burden He carried His whole life, contemplate how kind, merciful, generous, and patient He was, how caring He was for the sick, the poor, the lowly, think about the the contradiction He faced from sinners against Himself - yet through it all He pressed forward - never failing and never giving in to discouragement. Do you realize His strength?
So don't you think that He's got what it takes to see you through whatever it is you are facing? Even death itself could not defeat Him! So if Jesus carried the weight of the world then surely He is strong enough to carry you. He's still the very same Jesus up in heaven above and He is just as interested in your salvation as He was when He died upon the cross. Your redemption is the joy set before Him.
J Smith.
