Not Finished Yet - I Am a Work In Progress - Be Patient With Me

It absolutely amazes me Jesus’ behavior from his arrest in the garden of Gethsemane to his death on the Cross. Jesus didn’t defend himself, he gave up his privileges being one with God, he gave up his powers and endured the rejection, denial, pain, contempt and in the end death for me and you.

Though he was God, de did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal death on a cross. ~ Philippians 1:6-8 (NLT)

Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? ~ Matthew 26:53 (NLT)

Jesus gave up all his privileges and powers, so that we can set be free and become children of God. He could of … just ask for thousands of angels … what a show would of that have been. He could of prove it that he is the Son of God to all those who didn’t believed him. We know that everything was created in him, Jesus, and for him. He was there at the creation when “Let it be” was mentioned and the entire universe instantly was created.   We just don’t understand what does it mean to be God, have the supernatural powers to strike with one word and all would be death … yet, Jesus gave up everything, he didn’t even responded to the accusations against him. He always affirmed his authority. Whenever he was asked if he really was the Son of God, he would affirm their questions. He never denied his authority, but didn’t defend himself.

While mostly in his trial he was quite, Jesus had seven very important sentences which show us and teach us deep Godly principles.

When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “it is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit. ~ John 19:30 (NIV)

Do you realize that Jesus didn’t say I am finished, but IT is finished? The scope for his coming was to make a way to the Father, to restore the broken relationship between God and us, Jesus came to pay for our sins, Jesus came to bridge the gap between us and God and when he hang on the cross he finished all that he came for. He fulfilled the prophecies and paid the price for our sins, Jesus was offered as a sacrifice for our Salvation. The Lamb of God, the one who knew no sin, becomes sin for us.

I am forever thankful that Jesus didn’t gave up mid way, when the road was really hard, when they mocked him, when they spit on him, when they flogged him, when they put the crow of thorns on him…Jesus could of ask the Father to rescue him. And if Jesus would of asked -angels would of come and rescue him - but Jesus finished the purpose of his coming. Jesus Finished what we couldn’t.

When in your circumstances you might feel that you are finished…how often do we use that paragraph: “I am finished”… When you feel that you can’t make the next step, when you feel that there is no hope…remember, Jesus on the cross finished it all….for you and me.

Not My Will - How hard is to say these three words together. We often try to manipulate people around us to have it our way. We would even argue and fight if neccessary to have it our way.Yet, Jesus set a whole different approach about wills.

Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done. ~ Luke 22:42 (NIV)

I don’t know about you, but for me these three words are some of the hardest to say them together. The truth of the matter is I like it to be my way, my will. If we honestly take a look at ourselves we know that we kind of think that everything moves around us. I expect my kids to do things my way, I expect my husband to do things my way and if people around me don’t behave and do my will then I make a tantrum. I might not always express my thoughts out loud, but inside it’s a big tantrum. Why? Because we all like things our way, it is all about us. We love people who love us, we choose friends who are willing to do things our way, and it’s all about us. And then here is Jesus…

Jesus knew what’s ahead of him, he counted the cost and he asked his Father for a different way. Father IF, IF there is an other way, please take this cup from me, yet…and how often we never get to say this little word, yet…

Simon, Simon, satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers. ~ Luke 22:31-32

Think about this:
“______(fill your name here), ______(fill your name), satan has asked to sift you like wheat (you know exactly when you feel that your shaken more then you can take).
But I (Jesus) pleaded in prayer for you, ______ (fill your name), that your _______ ( fill in: your faith, your trust, your health, your marriage, your finances, your XXXX fill in) should not fail.
So when you have repented [because on your own - you just couldn’t stand and you felt: when things didn’t turned out the way you tought, when God didn't moved circumstances the way you thought he should … you doubted if God even exist, maybe just like Peter you even denied God, or when you been betrayed you wondered if you should ever trust again, when cancer hit your family too, or when your partner walked out, or maybe you walked out of your marriage, when your financial situation just didn’t worked out, you lost your job, you______(fill in) and in those circumstances you failed],
but when you realized you messed up everything - repented and turned to me (Jesus) again [ because you realized that you need Jesus more then ever, more then anything and when you turned back he (Jesus) was waiting for you, when you made one step toward Jesus he made all of the rest to reach you and he strengthened you] then strengthen your brothers [those who are in pit now, be merciful to them because Jesus died for them too, because Jesus is pleading for them too, help them to get back to Jesus].

When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals – one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said: “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” ~ Luke 23:33-34

Jesus spoke only few words or phrases during the most important event in history and one of those few phrases was about forgiveness. Jesus asked the Father and begged Him for our forgiveness. Even in the most difficult times, even when he hang on the cross, when Jesus was between life and death, he only thought about us.

Today we stepped in the most important week of the year. It’s the holy week. We remember Jesus’ sacrifice for you and me, for mankind. My prayer this morning was, that Lord please keep my heart sensitive. If you been a Christian for a longer period of time, you might feel that you know the story of this week. I would like to challenge you to go over and read the Easter events all over again and ask the Holy Spirit to make it new. Read the Bible as you would read it the first time ever.

We can NEVER get accustomed to the Easter story; we can never take it lightly. Jesus paid a really high price for you and me, and this has to always make us stop and be thankful, and gracious, because without Jesus’ willingness and obedience, you and I would be sentenced to death.