How many times did Jesus have to calm his parents down and say something like “relax mom and dad, I know what I’m doing.”  A few places in the New Testament allude to it, and I wonder how Jesus was still so willing to go to the cross for so many people he had never even met.  I am one of them- never having spent a meal with Jesus, never one cup of coffee, never one conversation face to face in the flesh, never did we watch a game, go on a bike ride, fish, hunt—normal buddy stuff.  never.

So why does Jesus die on the cross for me?  Last night a friend of mine gave me his old ipod nano (digital song player) because he and I have a good friendship and he knew I wanted one.  I was blown away by his generosity and I found myself asking the question “Have I really been that good of a friend to him in return?”

Besides the nano, Jesus gave me so much more and beyond through His blood.  But I have to confess, rarely do I find myself saying “Jesus, have I really been that good to you as a friend?”  I think I just expect this gift of forgiveness and redemption to just automatically bring me to my knees- but no.  It rarely works like that for me.  Instead, it’s usually only when I spend the time drawing near to Him in studying scripture or in prayer, that I truly realize and am refreshed about the amazing gift it truly is for Him to know me.

So, I still wonder why Jesus went to the cross for sinners he never met.  I look forward to meeting Him face to face, and looking into His eyes of love and asking Him ”Why did you do it?”  I suspect his answer will have something to do with His love for His Father.   It’s maybe a little selfish to think it’s all about me…His intimacy with His Father compelled Jesus to love the lost, not the other way around.  His love for me is from His love for and from His Father.  So Father, why did You so freely give Your Son?

Lately its been the patient, calm voice of my dad saying ‘be with me’.  My dad always wants to be with me.  He’s always trying to look in my eyes just to show me his own eyes full of love and affection.  As a man, this affection and ‘intimacy’ is awkward.  I didn’t grow up with this kind of dad, and now with my heavenly dad it all seems just strange.  However, i know that when I do look into His eyes, it all makes sense.  When I take the time to look into His Word, the very place my dad lives, he gets a kick out of the simple things- watching me play, watching me fall, watching me pick myself up, etc.  A lot like my 1.5 year old son…I love watching him laugh, smile, cry, feel pain.  not that I want him to go through hard things, just that I love to see him live as a spitting image of his old man.

what a Great dad I have who gave me His own Son, that through Jesus I would have a ‘no boundary’ relationship with Him.  Thank you Jesus that you gave me a chance to know your dad, so that we would be in the same family experiencing true and total intimacy.