JESUS FOR ME

Gary Giddings, Sand Lake, Michigan 

Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:13-14). Take this personally: Jesus is for me. He laid His life down for me and He invites me to be His friend. The song “Wounded For Me” (written by W.G. Ovens and Gladys Westcott Roberts) describes five different things that Jesus did for me in five verses.

v.1 Wounded for me, wounded for me,
There on the cross He was wounded for me.
Gone my transgressions, and now I am free.
All because Jesus was wounded for me.

Isaiah 53:5-6 - “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

The prophet Isaiah wrote this 700 years before Christ came to earth. What does it mean to be wounded? According to the 1828 Webster Dictionary, a wound is “A breach in the skin and flesh; caused by violence or external force; to hurt by violence.” Jesus, The Word of God made flesh, was wounded for me. He bore the judgment for my transgressions.

v.2 Dying for me, dying for me,
There on the cross He was dying for me;
Now in His death my redemption I see,
All because Jesus was dying for me.

Romans 5:6-8 - “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

According to Apostle Paul, Jesus died for the ungodly and the sinner, and that was you and me. This was the plan of God that Jesus would die on the Cross for us. He became our substitute so that our sins would be washed away, making us right with God. Now we can know and enjoy God’s presence and we will never to be banished from Him!

1 Corinthians 15:3 - “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;”

What does it mean to die? Death is when the spirit leaves the body. Death, according to the 1828 Webster Dictionary: “(1) To be deprived of respiration, of the circulation of blood, and other bodily functions, and rendered incapable of resuscitation … either by natural decay, by disease, or by violence; to cease to live; to expire; to decease to perish; (2) to be punished with death; to lose life for a crime, or for the sake of another.” Jesus didn’t die for His own sins because He never sinned. He died for my sins.

v.3 Risen for me, risen for me,
Up from the grave He has risen for me;
Now evermore from death’s sting I am free,
All because Jesus has risen for me.

Luke 24:5-7 - “And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.”

Certain women went to the tomb but Jesus’ body wasn’t there. The angels told them that Jesus had risen from the dead. Risen, according to the 1828 Webster Dictionary: “(23) To be revived from death.” Jesus told His disciples that He would rise again on the third day. Anybody can say the words, but Jesus backed up His words with action. Death could not hold Him in the grave and He arose victorious over death!

v.4 Living for me, living for me,
Up in the skies He is living for me;
Daily He’s pleading and praying for me,
All because Jesus is living for me.

Jesus is doing something NOW on our behalf. He is doing something that greatly helps us along the way. He is interceding for us to God the Father.

Romans 8:33-34 – “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

To intercede, according to the 1828 Webster Dictionary, “(2) To mediate; to interpose … to act between parties with a view to reconcile those who differ or contend … (3) to plead in favor of one.”

We need Jesus to intercede for us because we don’t always follow through in our commitment. Jesus is our Advocate when we sin (1 John 2:1). We confess our sins and we are forgiven (1 John 1:9).

v.5 Coming for me, coming for me,
One day to earth He is coming for me;
Then with what joy His dear face I shall see,
O how I praise Him – He’s coming for me!

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 - “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.”

Jesus is coming to take us home. He is preparing a place for us in heaven so that we can be with Him forever. “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” (1 John 2:28). Let Jesus be everything to you and He will help you to be ready for His coming.

Jesus was wounded for me, Jesus was dying for me, Jesus has risen for me, Jesus is living for me and now Jesus is coming for me!

We have found that life is “Jesus for me.” This is our contentment, our joy, our peace when we open up to the love of Jesus. In every moment of every day, let it be Jesus for me because Jesus is for you!