The Gift Through Death

The Gift Through Death

With His friends He dined that dark, lonely night;

Soon his soul would enter the ultimate fight-

An hour of darkness, beyond all thought,

A greater battle no man has ever fought.

The hour would come when His sweat would be red,

And then to the cross by men He’d be led.

Offering Himself, He’d be nailed to a tree,

Purchasing for His people the gift so free.

But first He must pray for His friends, so dear,

And for those who’d believe, both far and near;

So He prayed to His Father up above,

And asked Him to keep them by His love.

Our Lord knew He’d be taken by force that night

And His friends would experience incredible fright.

So He asked His Father to protect them all,

That despite their fears, they would not fall.

He spoke of how long before time began,

Before God formed the first woman and man,

The Father had purposed to have for all time

A people to enjoy His love sublime.

“Those you’ve given me” Jesus prayed that night

That we’d be forever kept in His sight.

He prays we’ll be His, so wherever we walk

Our lives will be built on the solid rock.

“Sanctify them,” He cries to His Father,

That neither storms nor fire will be a bother

To hinder or hold us in any way,

As His truth protects us every day.

What hope that gives to those on the earth

Who by His grace have received new birth.

The Son prays to the Father that we’ll be blessed,

In each  joyous moment, in every hard test.

“ Keep through your name,” the Savior prayed.

These words bring peace when we’re afraid,

For His name is called a strong, strong tower,

And that name protects in temptation’s hour.

Can we doubt, beloved, that the Father would hear

These glorious words from His Son, so dear?

Surely He answered, “I will, my Son,

When you offer yourself, the promise is won.”

Much more I could say about that eve,

But for now that subject I will leave.

To other thoughts I will now turn;

From these few verses there is more to learn.

What love the Father has for his Son;

It was first for Him that the giving was done.

The nature of love is to give, we know;

Yes, giving is loving, it has always been so.

“You gave them to me,” the Son cried out;

A most perfect gift, there is no doubt.

No, we’re not perfect, that is true;

Yet He wouldn’t give Him less than His due.

So a people He gave Him, a people with sin,

But His Spirit would come to change them within.

A new heart to desire those things from above,

Taught by God’s word, embraced by His love.

He guards His sweet gift, so precious, yet weak;

He still prays to His Father, this One so meek.

He intercedes always, for all of His own;

Could greater love by anyone be shown?

So let us rest in the One who freely gives;

Would He ever let go of the gift that His?

Would He let us go or set us aside?

Was it not for us that He suffered and died?

Would He snub His Father by despising us now?

Could He break His promise, His commitment, His vow?

No, never, this One who is Faithful and True;

This One who said, “I’ll never leave you.”

So this Lord’s day  let’s thank the one who gave

Himself for us, our souls to save.

“He who believes on me will never die;”

Could there be a better promise for you and I?

Thank you, dear Father, for the gift to your Son;

For our eternal life, the victory is won.

And one day we know He will give back to You

His sanctified people, unspotted, brand new.

The gift that you gave Him, He’ll bring to your throne.

And celebration will begin, as never was known

We’ll rejoice in the Lord forever and ever,

And ever and ever, and ever and ever.

Thoughts from John 17 and I Corinthians 15