Jesus Perseveres

I remember when my boys were little, one of their favorite activities was to play various games on our Nintendo Wii. However, when their hour of playtime was done, the games didn't truly end. Whether it was Wii Sports Resort or Mario Kart, their adventures (& frustrations) were repeated ad nauseam, whether to one another or (preferably) to Mom.

However, my wife could not have cared less about how much "drift" Funky Kong got on a dirt bike, or what combinations Kirby can unleash in Smash Bros, or even how many points were scored in frisbee golf (with its cute Wii dog) if she had tried. Yet despite her complete lack of interest in Mario's ability to knock Donkey Kong off a platform, Mom would patiently listen and even ask questions of her two little Wii players. Why subject herself to such torture?

Because she loved her boys.

THAT'S perseverance.

Persevering To and Through the Cross

While God probably doesn't mind listening to your most mundane prayers or Wii Sports adventures, He shows His intense love for you through the perseverance of Jesus, both through life and through the cross.

Unlike us, Jesus didn't vacillate in life. In John 13:1, shortly before we see Jesus wash the feet of His disciples, we read that Jesus...

"...having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end."

Ending phrase of John 13:1 (ESV)

Jesus was completely committed to His guys. There was no expiration date to His love for them. He wasn't about to let their friendship simply fade because of distance and time. He was willing to go through the hell of the cross for their sake. He loved them to the end.

Yet, Jesus didn't go through the awful events of Holy Week simply for the Twelve. He did it for you and me and countless others as well.

You know what that means, right? Just as Jesus loved His disciples to the end, Jesus will love you to the end. If you have put your faith in Jesus, He will keep on loving you even through your worst moments, through the unfairness you face, through the doubts that hammer your heart, and through whatever trials life throws at you.

But not only will He love you through it all, He can also give you strength through His Spirit for you to persevere through it all. His perseverance should help empower your perseverance.

So hang on to Him! Don't let go. Let Him carry you through the joys and sorrows of life. Because one of the works of Jesus is to persevere for and with you.