One of the beautiful passages of scripture in the Bible is the one found in John 3;16, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish and have everlasting life’.
God, the eternal, the one that was, and is and who is forever, gave us the greatest gift – His Son – His only Son, to save a dying world. A world that would reject Him, one that would not accept Him as Lord, a world that would mock him, torture him, and then crucify Him.
Imagine you are Gabriel overhearing the conversation with God and the Son in the Holy Spirit’s presence. They are talking about the ‘crossing over’. You now listen more intently. Crossing over? What’s that all about?
They speak about Jesus, the Son, leaving the blessings of the beauty of heaven. ‘Crossing over’ meant giving up status, benefits and the serene atmosphere of being with the Father. ‘Crossing over’ meant becoming an embryo, morphing into a foetus and being born to a young virgin in a stable. ‘Crossing over’ involved being born in poverty and training to be a carpenter.
As Gabriel, you can’t believe what you are hearing. Jesus is going to leave the safety of heaven, and go to earth, the only place in the universe that has succumbed to sin. You are deeply uncomfortable, especially as you are afraid for Him. Of course, He is part of the Godhead but you are nervous, for this situation is new – untried.
The pen of inspiration writes, ‘sorrow filled heaven, as it was realised that man was lost and that world which God had created was to be filled with mortals doomed to misery, sickness, and death… I saw the lovely Jesus and beheld an expression of sympathy and sorrow upon His countenance. Soon I saw Him approach the exceeding bright light which enshrouded the Father… The anxiety of the angels seemed to be intense while Jesus was communing with the Father… He then made known to the angelic host that a way of escape had been made for lost man. He… had offered to give us HIS life as a ransom…’ [1]
What if He fails? What then? Will the plan of salvation be thwarted? Will humanity be destined to eternal loss? The thought makes you shudder. But you trust the will and purpose of the Father.
God so loved the world that He was willing to let the Son, ‘cross over’. He so loved the world that He opened His arms of love and let go of his most precious possession. Crossing over – a sinless Jesus mingling with the sin-ridden people. Crossing over – living a life that involved suffering, hurt and pain. Crossing over – loving the unlovely, healing the broken, caring for the dying.
‘But God commendeth His love to us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us’ [2]
Exchanging heaven for earth, humanity’s sins for His life, crossing over to ensure that the plan of salvation is done.
What love. What amazing love!
Dr. Desmond Boldeau is a retired pastor from the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the UK, but currently works as a part-time supervising chaplain for a large faith-based charity.
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