Why Bother?

Why Bother?  Matthew 27:39-44

Jesus has just been nailed to the cross and the people watching were mocking him saying, “Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross” (vs 40), and “He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God” (vs 43).  Reading this, some may say to themselves, “Why did he bother?”  Jesus presented the kingdom to Israel, they rejected him.  Now he is on the cross, near death, taking upon himself the sins of the world (John 1:29).  A world blinded by Satan, also would mostly reject him.

Many Christians sacrifice their money, time, and patience when the do for others.  It could be taking a meal to an elderly neighbor, drive someone to the doctor’s office, or just sitting talking with person to keep them company.  It can be a whole host of acts of kindness.  Sadly, many are not very appreciative of what others do for them and many Christians have had the Devil whisper in their ear, “Why bother?  You could have spent that ten dollars on something else.”  It is a far, far cry from Christ’s death on the cross and taking a few moments out of one’s day to do something for another, but some have lost their lives for the furtherance of the Gospel.  When doing something for someone else, just keep in mind as Jesus died on the cross for your sins, he did bother.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11)