The Father says, “I have found in Jesus a man after My own heart, whose will is to accomplish all of My will” (Acts 13:22-23, John 4:34). A man to whom I can totally commit Myself because he is totally committed to Me. Over this man death has no legitimate claim. He will bridge the gap between Me and My estranged creation. He bears My exact imprint (Hebrews 1:3). He represents Me perfectly (John 14:9). Here is the man in whom I am well pleased (Matthew 3:17, 17:5; 1 Peter 1:17)!
Humanity says, “We have found a man who told us everything we ever did….” And although he knows us thoroughly, he still loves us. “Can this be Messiah” (John 4:29)? We found, in Jesus, the one whom our soul loves (Song of Songs 3:4). He is a man to whom we can abandon ourselves. He is the friend of sinners (Matthew 11:19); he sees no flaw in us (Song of Songs 4:7, 1 Corinthians 13:6). We have found one who is gentle and lowly of heart, and in discovering him we have found rest for our souls (Matthew 11:29). “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and the prophets wrote…” (John 1:45), the promised one, the stairway between earth and heaven (John 1:51). We have found our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14) who is like us in every way yet without sin. He will enable us to go safely into the welcoming presence of the holy God. He will reunite us to the Father, from Whom we estranged ourselves long ago!
Jesus Christ, man and God, has accomplished all of this for our sake, and for the sake of the Father’s eternal purpose. “Worthy are you [Christ, the Lamb of God] … for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God and they shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10). He ransomed us, yes! And what is more, he is transforming us into a kingdom and priests, in preparation for reigning on the earth.
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