Sacrificial Love

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Ezekiel 37:21-28 | Jeremiah 31:3-6 | John 11:45-57

LEAD-OFF BATTER-ED

“I will make them one nation upon the land, in the mountains of Israel, and there shall be one Prince for them all.” - Ezekiel 37:22

Ezekiel prophesied that Israel and Judah would be united after hundreds of years of division. This miracle of unity would be accomplished by David’s Descendant, who would be the one Prince and the one Shepherd of the reunited nation (Ezekiel 37:24). Ezekiel prophesied unity through divinely ordained leadership.

Caiaphas, the high priest when Jesus died, also prophesied. He said, “It is better for you to have one Man die [for the people] than to have the whole nation destroyed” (John 11:50). Caiaphas “prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation - and not for this nation only, but to gather into one all the dispersed children of God (John 11:51-52). Unity would be affected by a Leader - not by a Leader in governing, organizing, building, or even fighting, but by a Leader in dying. Jesus led the way in dying and made two into one through the blood of His cross (Ephesians 2:16; Colossians 1:20).

If we want unity in our world, in marriage and family, and in the Christian community, we must lead the way in self-sacrifice. We must travel the Way of the Cross (Luke 9:23).

Prayer: Father, I must decrease and You must increase; may I live out Your sacrificial love.