April 16, 2025 | Be God's Family
Undying Love Transcended
Scripture: Matthew 27:27-31(NIV)
27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
Devotional
The day my son suffered and died, My world turned dark and the curtain of My heart was torn in two. Experiencing the loss of an only son, is the depth of sorrow no one can understand. Watching him suffer, crushed me. Every beating, whipping, stripping, spitting, striking blow to his head made me want to shout to the world,
“Why won’t you stop this behavior?”
“Quit doing this again and again!”
“You are hurting Me!”
“You people deserve death, not my kind and loving son.”
“How can you not understand that We love you?”
Time seemed to stop and heaven hushed. I halted, but My world carried on with mocking tones, crowds rioting, and shouts of uproar. Injustice ran wildly unleashed like a herd of demonic pigs. I wanted everything to come to pause and humankind to take notice of what was occurring. The burden on my shoulders was heavy. His suffering was an insult to Me.
But, the abuse continued and the unfair sentence of His death didn’t alter. Do you think I turned My back? You know, He could have defended himself. We could have used all might and power to call down angels from heaven to obliterate earth. But, He didn’t and I didn’t. My son took the scorn and abuse like a suffering servant. My heart was torn in two.
In all of this commotion, there was one thing noted. It was a quiet knowing and understanding that He was not alone. He is Me and I am Him. We both suffered.
As He looked down on humanity and up at Me, He said to Me, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” A sweet surrender hushed the earth as He submitted his soul to death with an undying love for you. In His dying, undying love transcended.
Poem
Love Enduring
Psalm 118:1-18
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
Psalm 18: 1, 17
The last hymn sung forth from my lips
Declaring Love Enduring
Find refuge in Your spacious grace
You hear me, Love Enduring
From upper room to judgment’s steps
Your steadfast love enduring
Betrayal and denial grief
Still steadfast love enduring
Surrounded by great snarling wolves
Secured safe love enduring
I cut off all who wish me ill
With faithful Love Enduring
Though swarming stings berate me fierce
I stand in love enduring
I shall not die, but I shall live
Because Your love enduring
Note: Psalms 113-118 were traditionally sung after the Passover meal. Thus, Psalm 118 was the last hymn Jesus sang on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane. What comfort and strength this must have stored in his soul!
