I’m going to begin with a lot of questions. But that’s what reading the Bible is all about right? Asking questions? It’s what Moses did all through Exodus. It’s what Jesus’ disciples did when they didn’t understand his parables. The crowds went away shaking their heads, not understanding. But the disciples were his disciples because they pressed in and asked a lot of questions. They wanted to know Jesus more. They wanted to know God more. God loves an honest question.

So, first and last Adam. What does that even mean? Why Adam? 1 Corinthians 15:45 says the first Adam (Adam) became a living being, and the last Adam (Jesus) became a life-giving spirit. And previously in verse 22, since one man brought death to all, then one man, Jesus, could bring life to all. Okay that part makes sense…but why is Jesus the last Adam. Why that parallel?

Romans 5:14 says that Adam was a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. A representation? What does that mean? Adam brought death, not life. How can Adam bringing death to the world be a representation of Christ?

That brings us to 1 Timothy 2:14 which says Adam was not the one deceived, but it was Eve who was deceived.

Stop.

Adam. Was not deceived? In Genesis chapter 3, I always imagined that Eve persuaded Adam into eating the fruit, the way the serpent had persuaded and deceived her. Look, see, the fruit is good. But, the Bible says that Adam was not deceived. He knew what he was doing when he took the fruit. He knew it would cut them off from God. He knew they weren’t supposed to eat of it. He knew…that Eve was now cut off from God, and that he would never be able to be in relationship with her. He knew she had broken God’s command and would be cut off from God and himself. And he loved her so much that in that moment, he chose to eat of the fruit, to sacrifice his own life. He forfeited his life, because he could not bear even the thought of eternity without her. Adam as a representation of Christ? Now it’s starting to make sense to me.

Personally, I believe God was proud of Adam. Devastated? Yes. Betrayed? Yes. And clearly the rest of the Bible recounts how God set all his will towards the seemingly insurmountable task of getting us back. But still, I think there was at least small amount of pride. A, “That’s my boy! He takes after his Father, his Creator.” After all, God created Adam, us, in his own image. We have the character of God inside us. Jesus, our Messiah, was the lamb slain before the foundations of the earth (Revelation 13:8). God knew Adam would sacrifice himself, because Adam had God’s Spirit inside him, and God had planned all along to sacrifice his son for us.

God could not bear the thought of living eternity without us. He had a plan of redemption to get us back, before He even created the earth. His plan was Jesus dying on the cross, a terrible, bloody death, with all of the people he loved so dearly, the ones he came to save – betraying him, abandoning him, spitting on him, beating him, murdering him. Not to mention the battle raging with every demon in existence attacking him on the spiritual front. But the greatest working of His power, was then raising Him from the dead, defeating death, and making a way back for us to spend eternity with him. One day, one fruit, one man, and 2,000 years of God writing Jesus into the Word to bring him into the world as flesh and blood. All the world’s sin and death defeated in one Man.

How did he do it? How did he endure the cross? Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2) God had his mind fixed on us. He refused to live an eternity without us. So he devised a way to send his son, Jesus, the last Adam, as a sacrifice the way the first Adam sacrificed his life for Eve.

What was the joy set before Jesus? You. You were his joy. Nehemiah 8:10 says the joy of the Lord is our strength. Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before him. You were the joy set before him. You were his strength. When he was being beaten and whipped, and his flesh was torn from his back, he looked in your eyes and whispered ‘I love you’ and knew he couldn’t quit because he had to have you. He couldn’t bear eternity without you. When he didn’t think he could take another step up that hill, he saw your perfect face, the face he created, and he had the strength to continue. ‘I have to have her. I have to have him. I cannot live without them. So I will die for them.’

Do you see how much you are loved? Our finite human minds will never be able to fully understand the depth of God’s love for us. But if this sparks the tiniest flame in your heart, fan it into full flame (2 Timothy 1:6) This is why we have to look into the mirror of God’s Word. It tells us that we matter, and that are worth something. We are in fact, worth the death of the Son of God. The Word tells us we are saved from death, and saved for life and for a purpose. Most of all, it tells us that we are loved beyond measure. God is always speaking to us, whether we listen or not (Job 33:14). Let him speak to you. Listen. Let him love you. Listen to the love and identity and purpose he is speaking over your life.

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed – that exhilarating finish in and with God – he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls. Hebrews 12:2-3 MSG

I pray you at least a flicker was kindled of the roaring flame of love that God has for you. When I don’t know where else to turn to in life, and I think I can’t take another step, I turn to the Word. And I read all 4 accounts in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, of Jesus’ crucifixion back to back. I remind myself that he went through all of that for me. He took another step because he locked his eyes with mine and said ‘I love you so much I will not quit.’ And then I find the strength to take another step too.

I pray you’ll keep taking steps. The joy of the Lord is your strength. Time means nothing to God. Jesus’ trip to the cross is as real an present in his mind now as the day it happened. Know that you are the joy and strength of the Lord. Know that you are loved.

In Him – Just a girl pursuing her reflection in the mirror.