Jesus Christ, the Son of God, gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God to forgive our sins and transgressions (Ephesians 5:2). Giving himself up as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God means that He offered himself like an animal, died on the altar as a sacrifice. But, rather being offered as a sacrifice after death, Jesus died in pain, after suffering all brutal hardships. His hands and feet were nailed, shedding all the water and blood out of his body.
Jesus could be treated well for he was the Son of God. But he chose being mistreated as a sinner and died a terribly, since he was glad to save mankind even being suffered. Jesus served entire human race giving up all possible glory and honor and obeyed God the point of death just like the Bible says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”(Mark10:45)
Jesus gave himself up first. His disciples and the members of early churches gave themselves up and served in their lifetime. They turned away from all kinds of the earthly pleasure but by used everything had for the glory of God and winning soul.
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-even death on a cross!” (Philippians2:5-8)
Like Jesus who suffered of his own accord, we also should serve others’ souls for the Lord. We should take current hardships and pains as a joy expecting with faith the reward that we will receive in the time of soul. As the hardships and pains grows sever, we should be glad fact that greater reward will be given from heaven and follow a spiritual benefit and value.
Pastor Seok-Jeon Yoon
Extracted from Yonsei Newspaper #895
