Communion Message #11

Photo by Geda Žyvatkauskaitė on Unsplash

A couple of years ago I had a small medical procedure. It was nothing serious, but as you can imagine the practitioner relayed in detail the process that would be undertaken, and the possible risks associated with each stage. It’s a standard part of the process in all medical treatment, to ensure that you are informed before consenting. But despite having been given the full download on everything you could expect, I still felt a little nervous. Naturally. 

It’s just a part of the apprehension that we feel when facing the unknown. Even when we know everything there is to know logically about a situation, our mind struggles to mentally and emotionally construct something that we don’t have imagination for. 

The unknown has a varied effect on all of us. For some it petrifies, and for others it provides a mild nervousness. But either way, very few feel peace instinctually in the face of the unknown. 

We don’t know the degree of foreknowledge Jesus had regarding the cross. Maybe He knew every detail. Maybe He knew exactly who would hit him, who would mock him and at precisely what time it would all occur. 

Maybe He only knew conceptually what would happen and was unable to visualise the specifics. None of us could know this conclusively based on scripture. 

The point is He knew. 

He knew that which was prophesied about the Messiah by the prophets. And He predicted his death on several occasions including Mark 8:31 which says: 

“And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.”

He put Himself through betrayal, with complete awareness of every inch of consequential pain and humiliation associated with this initial betrayal. 

When we forge ahead with our informed consent, we are being made aware of the potential risks. Yet He fearlessly forged ahead into a fate that was guaranteed. And He followed through with it all.

How deep must His love be for us if He could follow through with such an act that He did not need for Himself?

This is our saviour.