By His Authority

"For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father." -- John 10:17-18

What a wondrous statement our Savior makes in these verses. He gave His life willingly to redeem us. He had the power to stop His execution, but He didn't. This truth stops me in my tracks. That God the Father would love me so much that He would command His Son to go to earth and die on a cross to rescue me. And that Jesus would obey. I nailed the Lord to the cross, and so did you and every other person who ever lived or will live. Our sins put Jesus there, but it was His love that kept Him there. Hallelujah! What a Savior!