And reason 50 from John Pipers book of the many reasons why Jesus came to die is... To Show That the Worst Evil Is Meant by God for Good In this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus . . . both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. Acts 4:27-28 A Prayer Father in heaven, in the name of Jesus, I ask for every reader that you would confirm what is true in this book, and cancel out what may be false. I pray that no one would stumble over Christ. May no one take offense at his deity, or at his unparalleled suffering. May none reject the reasons Jesus came to die. For many, these things are new. May they be patient to consider them carefully. And would you grant understanding and insight. I pray that the fog of indifference to eternal things would be lifted, and that the reality of heaven and hell would become clear. I pray that the centrality of Jesus in history would become plain, and that his death would be seen as the most important event that ever happened. Grant that we will be able to walk along the cliff of eternity, where the wind blows crystal-clear with truth. And I pray that our attention would not be deflected from the supremacy of your own divine purposes in Jesus’ death. Forbid that we would be consumed by the lesser question that asks which people killed your Son. All of us were involved. But that is not the main issue. Your design and your act are the main issues. O Lord, open our eyes to see that you yourself, and no man, planned the death of Jesus. And from this awesome position, let us look out over the endless panorama of your merciful, hope-filled purposes. What an amazing truth you have revealed: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). He did it not mainly by his teaching, but by his dying. “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3). Is there any more wonderful message for people like us, who know we cannot measure up to the demands of our own conscience, let alone the demands of your own holiness? Would you, then, merciful Father, grant that all who read this book see their need, and see your perfect provision in the death of Jesus, and believe? I pray this because of the promise of your Son: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). In Jesus’ merciful name, I pray, amen.
Posted on: Fri, 16 May 2014 17:22:25 +0000
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