“...Jesus Christ ... gave Himself for us...”
Titus 2:13,14
Dearly beloved in Christ,
I greet you in the sweet name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Governor Pilate found Jesus Christ was without any fault. But though Pilate found that Jesus Christ was innocent, he was not able to set Him free, so he said, “I am innocent of the blood of this just person.” All the people answered, “His blood be on us and our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them. When he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified. Then the chief priests, scribes and elders, spat on Him, hit Him on His head and mocked Him. They took off His robe and led Him away to be crucified. They came to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a skull. There they crucified Him.
Jesus Christ offered Himself to suffer all kinds of torments and when He gave up His Spirit, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth quaked, the rocks were split, the graves were opened and many of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. Coming out of the graves, after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. Now when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that happened, they feared greatly saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
Thus Jesus Christ who had all authority and all power subjected Himself to all such suffering and death. Why did He give Himself to all this suffering and death? We see in Romans 8:32, “He did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up for us all.”
Once in a war zone, a pastor was wounded. The wounded were taken to medical camps set up in schools and churches and given treatment. There was a mother with a small baby daughter in her arms, who came there and was weeping. With the idea of counselling her, he approached her and asked her way she was weeping and she told him what had happened.
She was living in the place where the war was being fought. Holding her baby daughter in one arm and her three year old son in the other, she ran for their life. After some distance she was not able to run anymore. Not knowing what to do, she left the son there and ran on with the baby. So she was weeping thinking of what might have happened to her son. She was so agitated, longing to get some information about him. As the helpless mother was agonising about her son, our God must also have been dismayed about His son. Why did Jesus Christ offer up Himself like this?
1.That He might redeem us from every lawless deed.
“...Jesus Christ ... gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed...”
Titus 2:13,14
These days men indulge in lawless evil deeds instead of doing the right thing. They do not think that others suffer because of their actions. More people are daring to commit murder for the sake of some small petty gain. I heard of one such incident. There was a woman who was making her living by working as a maid servant. There was a milk vendor who thought that the chain she was wearing was made of gold and he murdered her to take the chain away. This lawless horrible thing created lot of panic and fear in the hearts of all the people living in that area. The whole world wants to become rich, go up in one’s position, have and enjoy all the worldly pleasures and are upto evil deeds to get all such things. In order to redeem us from such evil and cruel deeds and the consequences, Jesus Christ gave Himself to suffer and die for us.
Lord Jesus Christ said, “I will not cast away any sinner who turns to Me” and the purpose for which He gave Himself to suffer in our stead is to redeem us. The Most High God says to us, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are Mine” and makes us His own and He has made the wonderful redeemed life for us through His son. Sometimes in the prayer requests I get, there are people who are dismayed saying, “Sir, I have pledged my house, my business spot to meet financial needs but now I am not able to redeem them. And there is no one to help me.”
Our Lord Jesus Christ has taken upon Himself the punishment we should get for our lawless deeds from our childhood and leads us in a completely liberated life. As Jesus Christ offered Himself to the suffering and death of the cross, we are blessed and redeemed from all our lawlessness.
2. Jesus Christ gave Himself to make us His own special people
“...Jesus Christ ... gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people...”
Titus 2:13,14
For the sake of every person who has no relatives, family or any attachment and lives like an orphan, Jesus Christ offered Himself to suffer the torture and pain of the cross, calling every such person lovingly “You are My son, My daughter.” We take possession of a thing, a house or a costly jewel as our own. Like wise Jesus Christ has made us His own because He offered Himself to suffer on the cross. We were stumbling, floundering in a life of darkness but by His suffering on the cross He has brought us to His marvelous light. By His act of love we have the blessing of becoming His own people.
Because of the trouble in the family, a husband went to court saying the three children were not his. So the court ordered that the latest DNA tests should be done on the father and the three children. It was found that indeed the three children were not born of him. The innocent children lost the father’s love and support, and their relationship was broken. The children were in a pathetic position. Because of the dishonesty of the wife the children did not know who their real father was. We also lose our relationship with our heavenly father by our sins. Jesus Christ gave Himself on the cross for us so that we could become worthy of His support and relationship.
3) Jesus Christ gave Himself to make us zealous for good works..
“...Jesus Christ ... gave Himself for us...zealous for good works.”
Titus 2:13,14
Our actions, thoughts and the words of our mouth are selvish and evil. The words of some young people are so horrible that we can’t bear them. We are now working amidst people who indulge in evil actions to pull down others that they may rise higher. Many such people speak honeyed words. They are up to audacious, sorcerous, cunning deeds to make others fall and lose everything. We can find this even in the Old Testament times. David says in Psalm 64:5 “They encourage themselves in an evil matter; they talk of laying snares secretly. They say “Who will see them?” From that day to this, the people who do these wicked things are increasing in number. The Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself for us who used to think, speak and do evil things and to change us to be filled with good qualities to do good and loving deeds.
From the time I was a kid I had great pleasure doing mischievous bad things. Once there was a V.B.S. in our area. As my father was a pastor he used to send us to the V.B.S. to study the scriptures during every May. So I went to the place where V.B.S. was conducted. It was a school where the compound was full of tamarind trees. During interval times, two of my friends and I used to climb up those trees to pluck the tamarind. The V.B.S. teachers did not know we were up to this mischief. Some girl students told the V.B.S. teachers about us. The teachers enquired and told us not to do it any more. We were waiting for a chance to take revenge on the girls who reported about us. When they were inside the bath room we bolted it on the outside. This became a big problem and the V.B.S. Director told us not to come back to the V.B.S. and sent us away. The Calvary love changed even me and made me a person to do good deeds. The power to change us to always do good deeds comes to us because Jesus Christ gave Himself to die on the cross.
Yes, the power to change our old nature to live with the good qualities of Jesus Christ is formed within us through the sacrifice and offering of Jesus Christ. The offering of Jesus Christ operates within us for all unwanted actions and characteristics to be removed and for good qualities that God loves to be formed in us. The loveless unloving acts and words are changed to live a life full of the fruit of the Spirit, to love one’s parents, husband, wife truly and to do their duties. The power to do so comes from the sacrifice of Christ. The offering of Himself by Jesus Christ fills us with good characteristics and actions.
4. It purifies us.
“...Jesus Christ ... gave Himself for us... to purify (us)”
Titus 2:13,14
Being cleansed is a very important thing. Man wants to keep his body clean with many kinds of fragrant soaps and shampoos. His inner qualities make him unclean. That should be removed. Out of the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaks. When it is cleansed, the words of the mouth change. The purity of the heart makes it possible for us to see God. Clean life increases many blessings. When we are made holy as in 1 Peter 1:15 “As He who called you is holy, you also be holy in conduct” we have union and relationship with the God of love. The evil spirits that are against us cannot come near us to do evil. The leper said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean” in Matt.8:2 and He came to Jesus and was cleansed and healed. He received all the honour that he had lost. Man looks at the face but God looks at the heart. As Jesus Christ offered Himself, true holiness is created in man. When your heart and your boundaries are purified and sanctified, the presence of Christ will come into your boundaries .
Dear brother, sister the purity of your life is very important. It leads us to fulfil God’s will. It creates a good relationship among God’s children. When we are cleansed by the offering of Christ, we become vessels pleasing to God. It brings us true honour and fame.
5) As Jesus offered Himself a spotless sacrifice, we become God’s servants..
“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
Hebrews 9:14
People extend all help and counsel to other people, relatives and friends that they too may enjoy the benefits they themselves have. In the same way the benefits that we enjoy in our spiritual life must be made known to others for their good and that is part of our service. To teach the way of eternal joy to those who are heading towards eternal destruction is service. To give loving counsel to people living with sorrow and tears to change their sorrow into joy is service. How to do it? To give Biblical counsel to those who are confused not knowing the right path and to lead them to Christ is service. To remove worry and darkness and do what is necessary for a joyous life is service. The power of Christ’s offering makes us who are unworthy to be worthy.
1.The blessing of life
“...the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20
We wish that we should have a happy good life in all ways. We work hard and earn money for it. When there are lacks and weaknesses, this good life vanishes. But the good life that we have through the offering of the Lord satisfies us in the spirit, soul and body.
When I became weak and thought my life was going to end, Christ’s mighty act redeemed me. That I am not destroyed is God’s grace. Now I am enjoying the blessing of knowing how true it is that by His stripes we are healed. Christ’s offering of Himself gives new life.
2) The offering of Himself by the Lord Jesus Christ purifies the church.
“that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that I should be holy and without blemish.”
Ephesians 5:27
The Lord Jesus Christ who is the head of the church yesterday, today and for ever, have concern for the sanctity and the growth of the church. His loving act of offering Himself on the cross, establishes the church firmly, builds it up, and creates oneness of mind and unity.
3. It helps us to walk in love
“Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma.”
Ephesians 5:2
Because of life without love, there is no joy, peace or unity in the family. Even small matters cause big divisions. This is also seen in towns and countries. When we walk in love, God will make true love’s unity in families, towns and all our borders.
Child of God, you have lost your peace because of division and you have lost your joy. Surrender yourself to know the love filled Calvary’s sacrifice. You will see wonders.
May the Lord bless us.
(Late) Bro. C. Ebenezer Paul.
(This message was originally published in April, 2009)
