Do you and I always remember to be thankful to others for what they have done for us? Let us think when last we said “Thank you” to someone for his or her kindness to us? I hope it was today!
Just now I am thinking of a great kindness that was done for you and me. But the Person who performed this great kindness is too often ignored. It was when you and I were still powerless that this Person came to our rescue.
You see, each one of us has been created by the Holy and Just God, and given life by Him. But because of our sin, we are all helpless to save ourselves from the judgment of God that we deserve. Instead of God being quick to punish us and destroy us, He lovingly found a way to offer us forgiveness.
Jesus, our Creator, came into our world born of the Virgin Mary. He came as the Saviour for mankind; but many people did not welcome Him.
They did not want to recognize Him or believe in Him as their only hope and Saviour, so He was "hated .. without reason"!
Why didn't God just give up on wanting to help this sinful world? Because He loved us, and would love to save everyone from going on to Hell!
It was very, very costly for God to provide the Saviour who could save sinners from Hell. Only Jesus Christ, God's Son, could pay the awful price of death for our sins. But what more could He do if sinful people refuse to let Jesus be their only Saviour? Jesus was to return to Heaven after He died and rose again. Was God about to give up on wanting to save mankind?
Jesus’ small band of followers had seen the opposition and persecution growing against Jesus and His message. Now they heard Jesus saying to them, “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, He will testify about Me; but you also must testify..” (verses 26-27.)
He also told them, “They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or Me. I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you.” (verses 2-4.)
Although it would mean persecution for His followers Jesus wanted them to continue to make the Gospel of God known; but God’s Spirit would never leave them and would enable them to preach His word clearly and powerfully. That is why you are hearing this from me today.
In the meantime, God continues to hold back the Day of Judgment, but it will certainly come to those who refuse to let Jesus take away their sins!
I hope you will trust Jesus as YOUR SAVIOUR before it is too late. Thank Him for coming and dying to pay for all your sins, and for sending you this message so that you could hear and believe.
Read Jesus’ warning of opposition against His followers in John chapter 15, verse 26 to chapter 16, verse 4.
John Nixon, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
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