Jesus Is Enough

Jesus Is Enough

Jesus didn’t live an easy life or die an easy death. The glory of Easter was preceded by the sorrow of absolute rejection. Our Redeemer knows what it feels like to be stripped of all comfort and ease. He experienced the betrayal of best friends. He sobbed alone, without a single person offering support. Yet, instead of trying to drown His sorrows with a margarita or spilling His guts to a sympathetic stranger on a plane, He endured.

He shouldered the greatest possible anguish, being completely abandoned by everyone, including God, so we would never have to carry that burden ourselves.

I didn’t used to believe Jesus was enough for me… It wasn’t until I hit the bottom that I found the love of Christ really is enough to sustain me, no matter what. Buckling under the weight of my own life is what helped me fall into the arms of God. I didn’t just stumble into His grace; I collapsed there in a messy heap! And you know what? It’s by far the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

~ Lisa Harper, Stumbling into Grace

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Countercultural Jesus

Women were the first to be present at Jesus’ birth, the last present at Jesus’ crucifixion, and the first to be given the incredible privilege of sharing the great and good news of the Resurrection. Throughout His life Jesus treated women with great respect and dignity…

In a day and time when the Orthodox Jew would include in his morning prayers, “I thank Thee, God, I am not a slave, I am not a Gentile, I am not a woman,” Jesus made firm friends and followers of slaves, Gentiles, and women!.. Women from all levels of society were involved in Christ’s life and ministry. They ranked among His closest earthly friends (Mary and Martha) and assisted and traveled with Him on His tours of ministry, helping to support Him out of their own means (Luke 8:1-3).

Women who were sinners found forgiveness, women who were sick found health, and women who were dead found life!

~ Jill Briscoe, Heartstrings

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I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. — Galatians 2:20

[God] chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. — Ephesians 1:4-6

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. — John 3:16

We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. — 1 Corinthians 2:7-8

Excerpted with permission from Joy for the Journey Devotional copyright Thomas Nelson.

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Your Turn

Jesus changed everything! No wonder people flocked to him — young and old, rich and poor, popular and outcast, male and female, Jew and gentile. He valued those who had no value in His culture. He came to bring life for all! Good News for all! Come share your thoughts with us on our blog. We want to hear from you! ~ Devotionals Daily