"GOD SO LOVED!"

Philippians 2:3-11                          (ESV)
"3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in CHRIST JESUS,
6 WHO, though HE was in the form of GOD, did not count equality with GOD a thing to be grasped,
7 but EMPTIED HIMSELF, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, HE humbled HIMSELF by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore GOD HAS HIGHLY EXALTED HIM and bestowed on HIM the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of JESUS every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that JESUS CHRIST is LORD, to the GLORY of GOD the FATHER."



In my meditations I have many times tried to imagine what JESUS must have gone through during Passion Week, from being hailed on HIS triumphant entry into Jerusalem, to being sacrificed for the sins of all mankind?  Knowing that HIS TIME was drawing near must have been excruciating for my LORD, yet HE walked HIS journey out of love for me!

But JESUS not only knew the last weeks, or the last year of HIS life, HE knew from the foundations of the world HIS life would be sacrificed for the sins of the whole world!  The scriptures above point out that although JESUS was "in the form of GOD", HE EMPTIED HIMSELF just for me!

Why would JESUS do such a selfless, humble thing?  Why would HE sacrifice HIS life for someone who is as worthless and despicable as me?  Yes, it's true that because of HIS sacrifice, GOD HAS EXALTED HIM above every name ever spoken, but is GOD so vain that HE would have HIS SON go through separation from HIMSELF just to draw glory to HIM?  Fellowship between JESUS and The FATHER wasn't broken until JESUS took on our sin while hanging on Calvary's cross!

The true answer isn't found in the writings above.  In John 3:16 it is written "For "GOD SO LOVED" the world, that he gave his only SON, that whoever believes in HIM should not perish but have eternal life".  JESUS knew HE would be required to pay an unimaginable price for the salvation of my soul, yet HE left HIS throne, walked among men, a died a gruesome death, all for me!  And all because "GOD SO LOVED"!