The Passion of Christ
I have just started reading this book The Passion of Jesus Christ by John Piper. I am begging God to increase my mind and my wisdom because let me just tell you… this book is hard to grasp. For us to truly understand our sin and truly understand Christ’s purpose… I don’t think I have ever really understood. I have been gripped by His death from time to time but I have to constantly ask God to grip me with the reality of what has been done for me and for all of you!
I was taken back by one line in the chapter I read today and thought I would share it with all of you. I am really doing this selfishly as it gives me a chance to mull over the chapter myself. Listen to this…
“If God were not JUST, there would be no demand for His Son to suffer and die. And if God were not LOVING, there would be no willingness for His Son to suffer and die. But God is both JUST and LOVING. Therefore His love is willing to meet the demands of His justice.”
How amazing is that truth. It is because we serve a just God that a payment for sin is required and then, it is because we serve a loving God that He allowed His son to be the payment and not our lives. He didn’t have to do that. I think it is amazing how well paired his character is… if either justice or love were missing from His character we would not receive life. Think about someone in your life that has loved you well but has not stood up to you in a time when that was needed. Or think about someone that defines the lines of justice in your life but has no love towards you… neither are balanced and neither really portray complete love or complete justice. LOVE and JUSTICE do walk side by side. I am grateful to God today for being perfect love and completely just. He is good! May He get the glory for today.
If you have not received Christ into your life may I challenge you to consider… God loves you beyond the love you could ever feel from man. God longs for you to know Him and I can tell you that He already knows you better than you know yourself. Would you consider getting to know Him?? Leave a note on my contact page and I will be sure to get in touch with you! Take care!!
I love Piper’s writing. Anything by him is worth the read. You might try “Desiring God” next. It’s a feast! Interestingly, Mary Ann and I went to the same college as he did, though he was 2 years ahead of us. His wife, Noel, was a suitemate or something with Mary Ann, and was a classmate of our. Anyway, I pray for wisdom as you read. Dick