He Still Stayed

Easter Devotional by Sherry Amor

Imagine this: Jesus is hanging on the cross.

His wrists are pierced with seven-inch nails; His ankles too.

His arms are straining against supporting His weight.

His head is crushed with thorns; blood is gushing into His eyes.

He can hear the mocking, and the scorning, and He can hear the angels above waiting to come to His rescue if He only said the word.

The blood that would save you and me is flowing out of Him, drip by drip.

In that moment of suffering, of torture, of abuse, with the Enemy in His ear telling Him to leave, to flee from the cross, and through the blood falling into His eyes…Jesus saw you. 

At that precise moment, hanging on the wretched cross that He had to carry. He saw your birth, your life, your relationships, your tears, your pain, your blessings, your praises, your seeking—everything that makes you YOU—He saw in those few moments. He saw the moment you were created; He saw the moment you were even thought into existence. He saw how you would take that job, buy that house, start that project, talk to that person, and go to that church.

Jesus saw everything that would ever happen in your life.

He saw you.

And He still stayed.

He saw where you would turn away from Him.

And He still stayed.

He saw where you would curse Him.

And He still stayed.  

He saw how you would deny His existence.

And He still stayed.

He saw you go somewhere you shouldn’t have.

And He still stayed.

He saw you do those things you weren’t supposed to do.

And He still stayed.

He saw where you would go back to the sin He delivered you from.

And He still stayed.

He saw where you would be crying out to Him, fully repentant, and tired from sinning.

And He still stayed.

He saw where you were full of joy and peace, and happiness.

And He still stayed.

He saw where you gave that person your last.

And He still stayed.

He saw how you encouraged someone when you yourself weren’t feeling the best.

And He still stayed.

He saw your failures, your success, when you lied, and when you told the truth.

And He still stayed.

He stayed, because if there was even the slightest chance that you would come back, He would be there. He stayed just in case you decided to return. He stayed just in case you wanted forgiveness.

Even for people who are constantly rejecting Him, He still stayed.

For people who seek only hurt, and chaos, and strife, He still stayed.

For people who go out of their way to make your life miserable, He still stayed.

For all of us who have trouble trusting, and letting go, He still stayed.

Because if ever you needed to give it all up, and come to God, to ask for His help, His love, His peace…it would be there for you, without cost.

Because He saw you, He still stayed.

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

-Sherry Amor