I asked myself what does it mean that Jesus humbled himself?
What came to my mind is that though Jesus is God and has the characteristics of divinity, He took on the role of a servant and submitted Himself to benefit humanity without utilizing His power to benefit Himself. He stripped himself of any rights and did the unthinkable. But even before that, Jesus surprised His disciples of His love for them. Around Passover time, Jesus stooped down to wash the disciples feet as recorded in the Gospel of John chapter 13. What is more interesting and so convicting is that Jesus also washed the feet of Judas Iscariot who He knew was going to betray him within minutes.

I asked myself why JESUS humbled himself?
What came to my mind is because Jesus loved humanity and wanted to show what real love and real servant leadership is, He allowed Himself to go through suffering and became our SUFFERING SERVANT.

A King became a SUFFERING SERVANT for HIS SUBJECTS.

Thank you Jesus, my Lord and Savior for suffering for me a rotten sinner so my scorching soul can be delivered! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

 "They shall see my Servant beaten and bloodied, so disfigured one would scarcely know it was a person standing there. So shall He cleanse many nations." (Isaiah 52:15, TLB)

"Yet, it was our grief He bore, our sorrows that weighed Him down. And we thought His troubles were a punishment from God, for His own sins. But He was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; He was lashed---and we were healed! We---every one of us---have strayed away like sheep! We, who left God's paths to follow our own. Yet God laid on Him the guilt and sins of every one of us!" (Isaiah 53:4-6, TLB)

I asked myself what did obedient to death mean?
The only way death could come in His life was if He gave the permission for it to come.  Jesus willingly for the sake of the mission: John 3:14-17, allowed death to take hold of Him.

I asked myself what kind of death is emphasized and the significance of that?
I found it very interesting that the word EVEN stood out to reveal the death Christ became obedient to, evidenced by "even death on the cross!" It was not any kind of death but seemed to emphasize a special kind of death by revealing the cross. It is as if to point out that this type of death is so horrible, scandalous, and excruciating to accept, yet Christ was obedient to that type of death. If Jesus wanted to be obedient to death, it did not have to be the cross! He could have drank poison, allowed himself to be stoned to death, beheaded, or hung and still come back to life but he decided to be obedient to death, even death on the cross!

So I started thinking about it and the reasons behind the cross. What came to my mind is that the CROSS was used for these purposes:
1. For the most notorious criminals.
2. For the most cursed death.
3. For the most humiliating death.
4. For the most painful death.

Jesus wanted to go through this kind of death for the mission John 3:14-17.

I asked myself, how does Jesus' actions fit into the category for the most notorious criminals?
Jesus took upon Himself to pay for all the crimes of mankind which when added together become notorious. Jesus made it His mission to be the sacrificial scapegoat for humanity. He did it willingly. Since all crimes added together amount to notoriousness, this is the death Jesus became obedient to for humanity. He was not silent but accepted the penalty for all our crimes. When I say crimes, I am thinking about all of the sins of humanity. The only time He was silent was when they accused Him so that He could lay His life for us.

"He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He never said a word. He was brought before as a lamb to the slaughter; and a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He stood silent before the ones condemning Him." (Isaiah 53:7, TLB)

How does Jesus' dying fit into the category for the most cursed death?
It was believed that only the worst people would die on the cross and this was so. In essence, they were cursed for their crimes in life. Now, Jesus comes into the picture and takes upon Himself the sins mankind has committed and agrees to take the punishment of cursing because He was on Mission 3:16. When we should be cursed forever, Jesus intervenes. Jesus does not stop there but endures a humiliating death.

^"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit." (Galatians 3:13-14, NIV)

How does Jesus' actions fit into the category for the most humiliating death?
When people were to die on the cross, they were stripped naked and put on the cross. It was not a solitary event but people jeered and cheered a person dying in their nakedness. This alone would be so humiliating because you could not cover yourself even if you wanted to. Now the King of kings and the Lord of lords is facing this kind of humiliation to save humanity when Jesus did not have to but chose to go to the cross.

"They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him." (Matthew 27:28-31, NIV)

In addition, when a person is on the cross they lose a lot of blood and go into shock. Sometimes it would be as if they were shivering so much and cannot do anything about it. Usually when persons are injured, they are given a lot of covering to keep them warm until help arrives. Not for those dying a humiliating death on the cross. Jesus does not stop there but goes through a painful death.

How does Jesus' actions fit into the category for the most painful death and what is the significance of it?
When people were crucified, the pain was unbearable and there was no anesthetic or morphine to keep the pain from not being experienced. After being labeled notorious, cursed, and humiliated, they are now placed HANDS STRETCHED and FEET TOGETHER as NAILS are POUNDED inside the person.

"When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:33-34, NIV)

Do you hear the screams and cries of pain with every hit of the HAMMER as 3 nails are pounded into the flesh of the One who did no wrong?
Other people at least committed crimes and had to face the punishment. Jesus faced it for our sake. Yes, for our sake! 

"From prison and trial they led Him away to His death. But who among the people of that day realized it was their sins that He was dying for---that He was suffering their punishment. He was buried like a criminal, but in a rich man's grave; but He has done no wrong, and had never spoken a evil word." (Isaiah 53:8-9, TLB)

Can you even imagine the pain?
An injection cannot compare anywhere close to it and yet I am afraid of needles. It is painful for me to prick my finger even when not an ounce of blood is taken.

What about the cross?
Jesus could have died other ways but for His mission John 3:14-17, He kept the cross in mind. It is interesting that even before He went to the cross, in one of His preaching sermons, He lets the people know, "If you want to follow me, you must deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow me. Those who want to save their life will lose it but those who are willing to give it up, will save it."

Now Jesus picks up the cross and carries it until He can carry it no more and Simon of Cyrene carries it the rest of the way to Golgotha.

What is the significance of the cross?
All the other types of death would not have fulfilled Jesus' Mission 3:14-17 for humanity but the CROSS had unique reasons for fulfilling that mission. There was 3.5 litres of Jesus' blood that was shed for our sake. It flowed to redeem us when Jesus was crucified on Calvary for you and me. It is His blood that cleanses humanity of their unrighteousness, when they turn to the One who did know wrong, as Jesus paid the ultimate price for our redemption. It was at the Cross!

When Adam and Eve sinned, they realized their nakedness and tried to hide it. They tried to hide it with fig leaves but God foreshadowed what would come one day, as God provided clothing for them after killing possibly a lamb so they could be covered. A lamb or another animal paid the price so they could be covered after their sinfulness revealed their nakedness.

On the cross, Jesus became naked when He took upon Himself our sins so we could be clothed in His righteousness. He became the sacrificial Lamb so we could be clothed in His righteousness without being naked in sin. No other death would have involved nakedness.

I believe there is a deeper reason for death on the cross than those I thought about above. When the Israelites were to escape the angel of death, they were to put blood on the door post of their door. The blood had to be from a sacrificed lamb.  It is interesting that the blood used to cover the door was placed in a horizontal and vertical way according to Scripture: "Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs." (Exodus 12:7)

If you take the horizontal post (top) with blood on it and separate it from the vertical post (sides) with blood on it, and put them together, you get a bloody cross!

When the angel of death came during the night and saw blood on the top and sides of the doorpost, judgment decided to Passover that particular household because  they did what God told them to.

In the same way, Jesus died on the cross for a reason. The bloody cross is from the Lamb of God who sacrificed His life for humanity. It is undefiled blood and the purest antidote for our virus sin. When we take His cleansing blood and ask Him to cover us, we are covered by the blood on the cross. The cross covers over our entire body with the blood on it. So, you and I can be confident that He will cover you and me!

Now when God looks at us in His Holiness, He does not see sin anymore but the blood of Christ covering over us and cleansing us of all sin. Now God's judgment will Passover us and we can be with Him in Eternity. And so through the Cross, Jesus accomplished Mission 3:14-17 for humanity. It is actually John 3:14-17 put to a mission.  Honestly, it only takes one drop of blood to wash us whiter than snow because that is how powerful Christ's blood shed on the cross for you and me is!

All the drops of blood were to save the entire human race that comes to Him!

"He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He never said a word. He was brought before as a lamb to the slaughter; and a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He stood silent before the ones condemning Him." (Isaiah 53:7, TLB)

"But it was the Lord's good plan to bruise Him and fill Him with grief. However when His soul has been made an offering for sin, then He shall have a multitude of children, many heirs. He shall live again and God's program shall prosper in His hands. And when He sees all that is accomplished by the anguish of His soul, He shall be satisfied; and because of what He has experienced, my righteous Servant shall make many to be counted righteous before God, for He shall bear all their sins. Therefore I will give Him the honors of One who is mighty and great, because He has poured out His soul unto death. He was counted as a sinner, and He bore the sins of many, and He pled with God for sinners." (Isaiah 53:10-12, TLB)

There is an awesome song by Carmen called 'This Blood' and an awesome song by Ray Boltz called 'The Hammer'

LIFE APPLICATION: 
I ask you now dear friend, why bother with the C.R.O.S.S when we are living in the 21st century?
Dear friend, 2000 years on Good Friday, it is the cross Jesus used to fulfill His mission for you and me. It is more than just a symbol or jewelry to wear on your neck or a pin to put on. Just studying this one verse I learned so much about the cross. Each time you come across a cross, I hope you get a flashback of the excruciating pain Jesus Christ went through to rescue you and me as each nail was pounded into Him! It was done for one reason: Christ Rescues Our Scorching Soul!

May that reminder, remind you how much Jesus loves you that He endured the cross for you and me no matter where you have been, where you are in your life right now, or what you have done! You can know you are never out of His love and never out of His reach! He loves you so much that if you were the only one living, Jesus would have still died for your sin! Yes, He would have!
 
When we make a cross using our hands, it is not just a gesture but being reminded of the One who endured it and the One who now covers us by His blood because He loves us. But that is only one aspect of why Jesus chose obedience to death-even death on the cross.

The other reason that came to my mind is a pathway. When we cross the road, we are actually crossing a pathway to reach our destination. Without a road or bridge or water we won't be able to get to the other side because they all serve as a pathway.

In the same way, I see the Cross as the only pathway to reach God. When we look to the Cross of Christ, we are looking to the pathway that serves as a bridge to reach our Heavenly Father. All other means and pathways will not let us get across except the cross of Christ.

Friend, you and I cannot save ourselves apart from the Cross of Jesus Christ. He went through all He went through because He knew He alone could rescue our scorching souls. Our souls will be scorched without the One who can heal them by His blood. He wants to do that for you.

I don't know where you have been or what you have done but this I know that no matter what you have done or where you have been, you are never out of His love. He waits for you to take all your sin and bury it. He wants to give you a new life. Yes, He does friend. Now is the time of Salvation. Now is the time to acknowledge your sin and repent of it turning to the One who can cover you by His precious Blood. That is the power of the cross for you and me. Come and take Jesus' rescue friend, for it is for you.

You and I can never reach God on our own because we are filled with sin without Christ's redemption. Our goodness is filthy rags to the Lord and so He sent Christ as our ransom. The ransom has been paid. You do not have to live with a scorching soul but a saved soul. Yes, you can! Come as you are and receive your healing this Good Friday weekend.

May you know how much you are loved by Jesus no matter what you have done or no matter where you have been! He loves you so much that He paid the price for you.

Now won't you accept what He did for you and come into His presence and give your life to Him so He can cover the virus of sin with His cleansing blood  and making you clean?

If you want Jesus in your life, He will give you a transfusion of change! Yes, He will my friend! Pray the prayer below and mean it in your heart knowing Christ Rescues Our Scorching Souls!

"Christ Rescues Our Scorching Souls! (C.R.O.S.S)"/"Why bother with the C.R.O.S.S when we are living in the 21st century?"

PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, thank you for loving me so much and thank you for choosing the cross to die for me. You became the Son of Man and lived here on earth. Then you humbled yourself and became obedient to death-even death on the cross. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. You died on the cross so that I can be covered in your blood and cleansed by your blood as I acknowledge that I need you and cannot enter Heaven without you being my pathway.  By your grace, you have chosen me. So, Jesus I confess all my sins to you and all the ways I have tried to get into Heaven when you already provided the means and the Way. Thank you for all that you have done for me. "The cross is the place, a wonderful place where accused and condemned find mercy and grace. Thank you Jesus, it is at the cross where the wrongs we have done and the wrongs done to us were nailed at the cross. Thank you Jesus, at the cross you died for our sins and at the cross you gave your life for us." (At the cross song) I thank you for that and thank you for coming back to life to save us. Thank you Jesus for being there for me! Thank you for loving me. I love you Jesus! Please take me as I am and make my life into something that you will be proud of. I surrender my life to you and need your help to live for you. I am forever grateful for what you have done for me and I can never repay you. I want to live for you and need your help. Help me Jesus please. I thank you Jesus for saving me! Thank you for hearing my prayer and answering me. Whatever your will give me the willingness and strength to bear it. Thank you Jesus! I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior! I want to live for you and serve you. I accept you into my heart and make my heart your home. Live in me Jesus so I can live for you and serve you. Thank you Jesus for being my Lord and personal Savior. Thank you Jesus, you have heard my prayer and answered me. In Your Name I Pray precious Jesus! Amen!

May the Lord Jesus guide you in His love leading you! Amen!