This post is meant to contrast the anguish of Christ’s love with the love of men’s hearts waxing cold in these last times (Matthew 23:36-38 vs. Matthew 24:10,31).
According to God’s calendar, the Passover obervance this year begins this evening, Friday April 22 (Easter was last month). Here are a few thoughts I would like to offer at the start of this special feast about both the anguish and the joy Jesus experienced in fulfilling this precious feast to reconcile us unto God (II Corinthians 5:19-21 with Luke 22:14-20).
Jesus’ offering of Himself at the appointed time at Passover (Matthew 26:13-15) was born of the anguish of His tremendous concern and love for others – not for Himself – as described in Philippians 2:5-8, and for the joy that was set before Him as described in Hebrews 12:1-3.
The following links are to a sermon by David Wilkerson which describes well this anguish which is in those who enter into the fellowship of Jesus’ sufferings as described by Paul in Philippians 3:10,11. In his message, David Wilkerson also speaks of the joy of the Lord being our strength as experienced and confessed by Nehemiah and his fellow laborers as described in Nehemiah 8:9,10.
- Summary version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGMG_PVaJoI
- Full message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayYizi9TZAQ)
Please note in particular the statement at the 39:45 mark in the full version of David Wilkerson’s message when thinking about Paul word’s recorded in Philippians 3:8-15.
May the joy of the Lord be your strength this Passover season as you endeavor to enter into the fellowship of our Lord’s sufferings in remembrance of Him and His offering for sin, our sin.
