He Held Nothing Back
“Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.”
Mark 15:23
Could Jesus have limited the awful pain He endured on the cross? Could He have used His divine powers to somehow mitigate—even a little—the full force of spiritual and physical agony that fell on Him during those six hours? What guarantee do we have that Jesus plumbed much darker depths than the rest of humanity?
The Gospel writer Mark gives us that guarantee. In today’s Scripture, we read, “They offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.” To offer a sufficient sacrifice for our sins, our Savior had to go all the way, with nothing held back. Wine mixed with myrrh might have softened His misery, but He would have none of it. His work on the cross would be complete.
What work does God want to finish in you? It may, you must realize, involve some hardship and deep pain. But remember, you have a Savior who has gone deeper still.
Lord Jesus, You gave Yourself completely for me, holding nothing back. Am I holding anything back in my commitment to You? Am I saving myself, shielding myself, sparing myself, as I seek to follow You? Life in these shadowlands will be over so quickly. Help me to love You and follow You without reservation today.
Clinging to Jesus When You’re in Pain
In 2017, Heather Hart felt like she was on top of the world. She was leading a women’s Bible study at her church and fulfilling her passion for writing. She was loving Jesus and living life to the fullest! Then one summer day, a migraine changed her life. Hear some of the practical ways she manages her migraines and be encouraged by how God has used Heather’s pain to draw her closer to himself.
