Back in High School, I bombed a history quiz. It was a 'pop quiz' and I was totally unprepared. As the quiz was graded and returned to me, I noticed a 37% score at the top in blazing red marker.
Later on in the week, my mother asked me: "How do you think you did on that history quiz?" Almost immediately, I blurted out a lame: "Pretty good. Pretty good." I followed the pathetic lie with further deception: "The teacher probably won't get around to grading it for quite awhile; there's no telling when I'll get it back. It might be many weeks from now."
Of course, once the mid-term grade reports were released to my parents, they were severely displeased. They noticed that my grade point average in history had declined considerably. I was forced to confess---after much coaxing and numerous threatenings-- that I garnered a 37% on the pop quiz. I then received a well-deserved punishment.
In severe contrast, Jesus never failed to please God the Father. In John 8:29, He said: "The Father has not left me alone, for I always do those things that please Him." Jesus did more than than 'pretty good' in the sight of God the Father. He lived a sinless life; thus, He never had to lie in order to cover up a failing. The questions he asked of His skeptics are relevant, even to this day: "Which of you convicts me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?" (John 8:46)
Jesus is much better than a pretty good Messiah. After living a life of perfect obedience to the Heavenly Father, Jesus died a horrific death in behalf of really bad sinners who would believe on Him for eternal life.
He received a punishment He never deserved so that people of faith in Him would be forgiven and eternally loved.
If you are a Christian, then you joyously and soberly know the spiritual reality of Jesus’ sacrifice for you. During Holy Week, in particular, you thank God that you have been saved by the One who died for your sins and was raised for your justification (Rom.4:25).
If you are a skeptic, which sin can the Lord Jesus rightly be convicted of? And if He tells the truth, why don't you believe Him?
Later on in the week, my mother asked me: "How do you think you did on that history quiz?" Almost immediately, I blurted out a lame: "Pretty good. Pretty good." I followed the pathetic lie with further deception: "The teacher probably won't get around to grading it for quite awhile; there's no telling when I'll get it back. It might be many weeks from now."
Of course, once the mid-term grade reports were released to my parents, they were severely displeased. They noticed that my grade point average in history had declined considerably. I was forced to confess---after much coaxing and numerous threatenings-- that I garnered a 37% on the pop quiz. I then received a well-deserved punishment.
In severe contrast, Jesus never failed to please God the Father. In John 8:29, He said: "The Father has not left me alone, for I always do those things that please Him." Jesus did more than than 'pretty good' in the sight of God the Father. He lived a sinless life; thus, He never had to lie in order to cover up a failing. The questions he asked of His skeptics are relevant, even to this day: "Which of you convicts me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?" (John 8:46)
Jesus is much better than a pretty good Messiah. After living a life of perfect obedience to the Heavenly Father, Jesus died a horrific death in behalf of really bad sinners who would believe on Him for eternal life.
He received a punishment He never deserved so that people of faith in Him would be forgiven and eternally loved.
If you are a Christian, then you joyously and soberly know the spiritual reality of Jesus’ sacrifice for you. During Holy Week, in particular, you thank God that you have been saved by the One who died for your sins and was raised for your justification (Rom.4:25).
If you are a skeptic, which sin can the Lord Jesus rightly be convicted of? And if He tells the truth, why don't you believe Him?