Jesus...Yesterday, Today, Forever

"Now!"
It's not judgment—it's joy!
A Great Light has dawned
God in the flesh
Blindness
They missed it
For the JOY set before Him
Choices...
He loves me!

"... for the JOY set before Him, Jesus endured the cross."

Jesus falls as He tries to make it to the cross. (Bruce Marchiano in "Matthew.") Not long ago, I was reading chapter 12 of the Bible's book of Hebrews where it says, "For the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross." I'd read those words many times, but for some reason this particular day, it really caught me. I leaned back in my chair and thought, "What joy? What joy could there possibly have been in an awful, hell-ridden thing like that?" I prayed and prayed, and after the longest time, words rose in my heart; words for me, words for you, words for everyone reading this page and beyond, for He has the same heart, the same hope, the same desire and passion for everyone and for all:

"The joy set before Me was you.
You are My joy.
That the day would come when we would share sweet companionship,
today, tomorrow, and for all eternity.
It is you, My beloved.
It is you."

Jesus endured it all for the joy of His life--YOU. (Bruce Marchiano in "Matthew.")

Text and photos taken from Jesus...Yesterday, Today, Forever, by Bruce Marchiano (p. 94). In Jesus...YTF, you'll taste what only a handful of people tasted 2,000 years ago as Jesus walked among His most treasured, beloved creation: people. Filled with breathtaking color photos from The Visual Bible™'s "Matthew."

Jesus...Yesterday, Today, Forever. Copyright © 1999 by Bruce Marchiano. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon 97402 and Visual Entertainment, Dallas, Texas 75248. Used on www.LoveLavished.org by permission.