Even Christ Pleased not Himself Romans 15:3

Paul the apostle instructed the believers in Rome, “Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification”, and in chapter fifteen and verse three of Romans, Paul shared with the believers how, “even Christ pleased not himself” where we read:

For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written,

The reproaches of them that reproached you fell on me.

The verse begins, “For even Christ pleased not himself;” Paul began with the word, “for even” which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore” “Christ” which refers to “the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God” “pleased” which means “strived to accommodate one's self to the opinions, desires and interests” “not himself” or “not of Christ's own self”. Paul referred to the way Jesus “Christ” did not “strive to accommodate” Himself.

The verse continues, “but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached you fell on me.” Paul added the word, “but” which means “”, “as it is written” or “like and in the manner it is delineated or formed in letters on a tablet, parchment, paper or other material”, “the reproaches” which means “contumely, abuse, revilement, vilification and disrespect” “of them” or “pertaining to the human beings whether male or female” “that reproached you” which means “who abused, reviled, vilified and disrespected others” “fell on me” or “rushed, pressed, lie upon, seize and took possession of Christ”. Paul referred to Psalms chapter sixty nine and verse nine as he shared about the “contumely, abuse, revilement, vilification and disrespect” that “seized and took possession of” “Christ”.

When we think through these words of Paul, we see a beautiful example of Jesus allowing “abuse” to happen to Him on the believer's behalf. The penalty for sin is “death”, and everyone who “sins” is destined to “die”. However, “death” does not have to be “eternal” because Jesus took “the reproach” destined for mankind. When He died on the cross, Jesus Christ did not “please Himself” but rather accepted the penalty or “reproach” for every person. Now everyone who receives Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” shall have “everlasting life”, and may all who read these words “receive” Him today.

Next time Paul tells the believers in Rome how, “whatever things were written aforetime were written for our learning”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.