“I have eagerly desired…”

On a Thursday evening, 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ had come to the end of his time on earth. After 33 years of perfect obedience, less than a day remained of his time on earth. It would be a time of crushing temptation and agony. Everything that Christ had accomplished in his life came down to these final hours. From those to whom he had been the closest he would see jealousy, greed, betrayal and abandonment. From the Enemy he would again know temptation—though this time, he would not be tempted by the aroma of fresh bread, but by the opportunity to avoid unspeakable punishment for the injustice and hatred of a world plunged into sin. His own Father would forsake him. He would know pain in a way that no other human would ever know.

The point of Passover was the killing of the Passover Lamb. The blood of this lamb was put on the doorposts of the Israelite homes in Egypt to protect God’s people from the death angel. Jesus knew that he was Passover Lamb to be slaughtered. Yet, when the time came to celebrate the Passover, he said this:

When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer (Luke 22:14-15).

Jesus lived and died to do the will of his Father— eagerly!

Some challenging questions:

What do you eagerly desire? Do you desire, above all else, to acquire God’s wisdom, so that you will clearly see the path of obedience set before you? Does living for the glory and honor God consume you? When you see that following Christ will be result in difficulty and pain, do you still desire identification with Christ? What do your children believe that you eagerly desire above all else?

Jesus eagerly desired to obey his Father by celebrating the Passover. He knew full well what the next few hours would bring. He knew that he was the Passover  Lamb whose blood was to be sprinkled on the doorpost. Yet for the joy set before him, he endured the Cross because loving his Father mattered more to him than anything else.

Can the same be said of me, of you?

 

Shepherd Press