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John 10:17-18 – Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
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Take a few moments to deeply consider the words of our Lord in the Text for Today. Note closely that Jesus said, “No man taketh it from me.” Think on that for a few moments. For centuries, many in history said the Jews killed Jesus. Others have said the Romans killed Jesus. Still others said it was the lost (the unsaved whom Jesus came to save) killed Jesus. And while on the surface it appears each of those statements holds some factual basis, the truth is that NO ONE killed Jesus; at least not according to His Own words. He said of His life, “I lay it down of myself.” You see, the truth is this; if Jesus had not laid down His Own life, had He not “given up” the ghost, that is, released His Own spirit man to depart from His body, especially the moment before He became sin for us, He would not have died. You see, Jesus was eternal; He was the Word made flesh; He was God-in-the-flesh; He was the perfect outshining of the Father; He NEVER sinned, and was the spotless, sinless, blameless Son of God.
But Jesus CHOSE to die. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He cried to the Father, “Not My will be done, but Thine.” Though it was not His personal desire to suffer the death of the cross and pay the penalty for our redemption, He yielded His will to Father’s will for the fulfillment of Scriptures and the setting in place the work of our redemption from the curse of the Law.
But now consider the authority of the believer in Christ. Jesus said we would do the works He did. One of those works was living a true Psalm 91 life. Take a moment to read Psalm 91, and as you do, behold with rejoicing your placement and privilege in Christ, and the blessing and benefit if you walk in that covenant. The Lord will “satisfy him (you) with long life.” In fact, Psalm 91 clearly points to the truth that no one can take your life IF you live in the covenant life described in Psalm 91. Well, dear friend, when considered in light of the truth of Psalm 91 and Genesis 6:3, it appears you, like Jesus, can live free of fear of anyone TAKING your life, for you have the privilege, and I believe the responsibility, to LAY YOUR LIFE DOWN; not for the sake of man’s redemption as Jesus did, but for the sake of honoring and serving our redeeming Lord. Now go and walk out your SECOND MILE.
Manna for Today – John 10:1-21; John 20:21; John 14:12-14; Romans 4:13-22; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Galatians 3:13-29; Psalm 91; Genesis 6:3
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My Second Miler by Dr. Beechard Moorefield 