But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. ~ John 19:34
Have you ever wondered about the thoughts that ran through Jesus’s mind in His Earthly ministry?
I know it is speculation, and is something I am not fond of but really-
Just imagine with me for a moment. With Christ being fully human and full God, what thoughts did Jesus possess as he asked Judas Iscariot to follow Him, knowing full well that he will betray Him?
One could only speculate on exacts, but I know exactly by what nature the thoughts were. They possessed grace and truth (John 1:14). They could be characterized by a love unseen to those who walked with Him then, and those who walk by His Spirit now (John 15:13; Romans 5:5).
And as He was dying on the Cross, the thoughts that raced through His mind, I’m sure human words could not portray. Agony reconciled by love for those who He came to save.
In retrospect, we look back to the character of Christ on the Cross to define the character we embody now.
Dwight L. Moody once preached a sermon depicting the love that Christ has for humanity. In it, He illustrates the fact that Jesus even loved those who carried out the desires of the Jewish population against Him-
The Romans.
Once again, dealing with hypotheticals, Moody states the following in a narrative of the story,
“Go hunt up that man that put a spear in my side and tell them there is a better way to get near to my heart.”
Isn’t that beautiful?
Even when we were enemies to God and far from His beautiful heart- He loved us (Romans 5:8). He settled the debt we owed, in one final swoop so that we know longer had to pursue Christ as if we were spear fishers, but rather sons and daughters free to address Him as Father (John 1:12; Romans 8:14-17).
We are as near, as near can be. Christ is near, as near can be. We abide in His Body, and He abides in us (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 John 2:6).
This is because we came to God’s heart, on His terms, by the blood of Christ. We are able to receive His very Spirit.