If Only You Knew: An Easter DevotionalSýnishorn

What comes to your mind when you think about a King or a great ruler? For many of us, the image of such a high-ranking individual strikes up thoughts of strength, honour, power and wealth.

Someone vulnerable, in pain and persecuted is the last thing that would come to our mind when thinking of a victorious King.

Yet, the strange and beautiful thing about our faith is that the God we worship is found in both of these parallel descriptions. Not only that, but the suffering Saviour is a very important part of who He is.

What stands out about the two verses in today’s Scripture, is that everything He endured was completely for our sake.

The pain and suffering He bore were meant for us, but He took it on our behalf. Our sins and offenses against others and God demanded judgment but was fully paid for through His piercings. The punishment that we deserved He went through, and by the wounds of His affliction, we now experience supernatural peace and complete healing from the claws of spiritual death. Instead of condemnation, we have confidence in our salvation. Instead of fear and the penalty of sin, we can live lives full of love and absolute freedom.

This is the King and Saviour we serve. He suffered so that we could be made whole. Good Friday was the ultimate expression of who He is—the King who gave up His place in Heaven to be a suffering Servant. His suffering was the physical manifestation of perfect love.

Jesus gave Himself physically for us so we could experience a new way of life. But His ultimate sacrifice is also a picture of the kind of life He calls us to as His followers. A life of service and death of self, for the sake of others. A life reflecting the perfect love of a King who came to suffer, serve and save.

In what ways do you feel Jesus calling you to lay down your life for those around you this Easter? Spend some time to meditate on today’s Scriptures and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in walking out sacrificial love.