Thank You for Coming

"But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship." — Galatians 4:4-5

Have you ever thanked Jesus for coming?

I have walked the path from the top of the Mount of Olives down into Jerusalem many times. It's the same path Jesus rode down on Palm Sunday. On one of my visits to Israel, some citizens of Jerusalem were walking toward us on that same path.

They looked at our group, and they were full of joy. They said to us, "Thank you for coming. Thank you for coming."

Those words hit me deeply. They appreciated that believers who love the Lord and love the land would support them by being there. I will never forget those words.

As I thought about it, I realized that should be our one statement to the Lord: "Thank you for coming."

If Jesus had not come, if He had not gone to the cross to die for our sins, if His blood had not covered our sins, we would still be dead in our sins. We would be hopeless. We would be lost forever.

But He came.

He left the glory of heaven. He took on human flesh. He walked dusty roads. He experienced hunger, thirst, exhaustion, and rejection. He was betrayed, beaten, mocked, and crucified.

For you. For me.

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).

He didn't have to come. He chose to come. Love compelled Him. Grace drove Him. Your redemption motivated Him.

Without the cross, all of us are hopeless. Because of the cross, there is hope for us. We have confidence with assurance that we are truly forgiven.

When was the last time you stopped and simply said, "Thank you Jesus for coming"?

Say it right now. Mean it. Let gratitude fill your heart.

Thank you Jesus for coming. Thank you for coming.