City Life Starter

Written by Stefan Johnsson

The Word

²⁸ So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. ²⁹ And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”

John 8:28-29 (ESV)

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:4-6 (ESV)

Reflection

Jesus knew His mission very well. It would be no surprise to Him that He would be judged wrongly and sentenced to death on a cross. At the same time, Jesus was doing it in obedience to the Father and wanted to please Him. Jesus, the Son, came to accomplish and fulfill the covenant given to Abraham that sin would be conquered once and for all through his seed.

Just like the two men walking on the road to Emmaus who Jesus appeared to after His resurrection. They came to understand how all the prophecies of the Old Testament related to Jesus and His mission. Paul spoke about this in His letters to the churches, describing it as the mystery of the Bible which was revealed to us through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Thousands of Jews came to believe Jesus as the Messiah and they came to know that He was truly the Son of Man. As it mentions in Matthew 27:54 that the people who stood around when Jesus died on the cross said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Application

Jesus never wavered from His mission. He knew the will of the Father and wanted to please Him through His obedience as a humble servant. Jesus abided completely in His communion and trust with the Father. Jesus is thus our perfect example of how we are to have a relationship with our Father in heaven.

Are you growing closer to Him? Are you living a life of trust and obedience? Are you doing what pleases God?

Prayer

Father, help me abide in You. Humble me and remove any obstacles that hinders my devotion to You. Let me find what pleases You and do it. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.