By Pastor Tony Guadagnino
Have you ever quit and now justify it in your mind as to why you quit? Have you ever heard someone give excuses as to why they quit?
We all have our reasons why we do the things we do in life. Let’s take a look at what Jesus went through for us:
• They plotted to kill Him
• One of his leaders betrayed Him
• Jesus knew one of the 12 would betray Him
• He asked God if there was any other way
• His best friends could not even pray for an hour
• He was arrested on false, made-up charge, then taken away and put to death
• Peter denied Jesus three times
• They spit on Jesus and struck him with the palms of their hands, when he was with the high priest
• They mocked and beat Him, made fun and laughed at Him
• They lied about Him
• He was found ‘not guilty;’ they had no evidence to convict Jesus of a crime
• The people wanted a rebellious murderer over the King of the Jews
• Pilate gave in to the people – I don’t think he did that very often at all
• They whipped Him with a cat o’ nine tails
• They mocked Him by placing a purple robe on Him
• They put a crown of thorns on His head
• They began to salute Him and spit on Him
• They struck Him on the head with a reed
• They bowed a knee and mock worshipped Him
• And then after all that, they nailed Him to the cross and He asked God to forgive them
• They laughed at Him and mocked Him, telling Him, “Save yourself if you are really the Christ”
• His own mother and his disciples had to watch his cruxifiction on a cross
• One of the men hanging next to him even mocked Him
• He cried out “it is finished” and died
• They divided His clothes, cast lots for them
JOHN 19:30
30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit. NLT
Jesus finished what He started. He never quit and he never gave up. He suffered the sins of the world, then He rose from the dead. He empowered the disciples with a new message, the good news that He had defeated the power of sin and death. Jesus taught us to refuse to quit, and to fight with everything that is inside of us. Do not just remember what Jesus did, remember why He did it.
Pastor Tony Guadagnino
Christian Love Fellowship Church
