Thankful Thursday

It's Thankful Thursday. If you'd like to participate you may do so here.

We've all talked of being grateful to Jesus for his death on the cross, but do you ever think about the inconveniences Jesus went through for us? The Pharisees were constantly hounding him, especially toward the end.

In John 11 He goes to Mary and Martha's house, and after raising Lazarus from the dead, it says that many of the Jews there believed in him when they saw what he did, but then look at Verse ⁴⁶But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.


In the next verse the Pharisees had a meeting. Then by verse 53 they were plotting to kill him. He was constantly hassled by "religious" leaders.


Earlier in John 10 there's an explanation why He took such pains. He tells how a hireling runs when trouble comes, but that He is the good shepherd that gives his life for his sheep. Then He says, "And other sheep I have,which are not of this fold: (that's us) them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.(Then He says) 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.

He didn't have to go through any of it. From the inconvenience of dealing constantly with self righteous people, to the laying down of his life. It was all optional, yet He suffered through it, painstakingly, patiently, day by day. He did it for those present at that time, and for us who were not of the fold yet. I am thankful today that He not only died on the cross in my place, but for the many inconveniences he suffered before he got there.

Let us remember to be more tolerant of people and of inconveniences, that we may become more like Christ.