Come, Jesus, Come!

12 August, 2014

At the start of time, the one and true God opened the Heavens, looked down on the galaxies, and chose the perfect place among the stars and sun to create a beautiful land for His children. He created the world’s first humans, Adam and Eve, to live in the Garden of Eden, dressed decadently with flower patches, waterfalls, and animals of every kind. The sole command God gave was not to eat of one specific tree, but Eve fell to temptation and gave in, dragging along Adam. God banished them from the garden, separating them from a close union with Himself.

Generations later, people needed a miracle; something giving them access to God again. Although God had appointed various prophets and leaders: Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Joseph, and Elijah, none of them could branch the separation.

That is, until God decided to send Himself in the form of an average carpenter. He didn’t come down as a royal, rich king or wealthy ruler, instead humbly deciding to be born in a barn by a quiet, simple-hearted woman named Mary. All throughout childhood and as a young adult, Jesus did the impossible of living a perfect life. He held every characteristic of being from God; He was Holy, compassionate, relational, loving, humble, prayerful, and sinless.

Because people no longer wanted their tainted sin to hold a barrier between them and the Lord, they were patiently awaiting this promised Messiah. He had been written about in Isaiah and the Psalms, and religious leaders and followers were excited for the chance to meet Him. These very leaders, the ones so ecstatic about His coming, did a peculiar thing. They turned their faces from Jesus’s teachings, spitting in His face, calling Him a liar and madman.

Jesus had developed a large following, healing the blind, lame, and diseased with ease. His words were different than all others, and He drew in the lowly: prostitutes, widows and children; as well as prestigious men: city leaders, expert fisherman, and chief tax collectors. He fed them when they were hungry, healed them when they were sick, and even raised a few people from the dead. God was in the flesh, living among His beautiful creation, and everyone was rejoicing.

Everyone, that is, other than the above-mentioned religious leaders. They were jealous of His popularity and miraculous works, deciding to harden their hearts instead of accept His wisdom. They schemed to do the unthinkable: kill Jesus. They wanted Him gone so they could again rule over the people, placing themselves on a pedestal over all else.

After wicked betray, Jesus was handed over to the government officials to be nailed to a wooden cross and left for dead. Consequently, His large following quickly dissipated, some followers even turning to ridicule Him. Through the beatings and torment, Jesus still didn’t sin. Instead of turning His face from the slaps, He actively turned to them, willingly accepting the undeserved punishment. He hung on the wooden cross for six hours before taking His final breath.

Close followers and friends were devastated, feeling like lost sheep without their shepherd. Their beloved teacher was killed, and now they had no plan! Fearful for their lives, they cooped themselves up for three days, feeling confused, lonely, and mortified. But, to their rescue, the incredible Jesus had one more miracle: He came back to life, appeared to His friends, and sent them on a mission to share the whole story.

All who believed He was God’s precious Son and had died and rose again would receive eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven, never having to fear of death! The men were determined to share the news to all nations, and the story of Jesus has been trickled down from generation to generation ever since.

In the Bible’s final book, Revelation, Jesus shares how He’ll soon come back down to Earth to save those who believed in Him, bringing them into His glorious, everlasting Kingdom. Earth will be destroyed, and all evil will be forever forgotten.

Come, Jesus, come!