My Precious Friend,

The night before My death, I want you to understand, it was you that was on my mind.  I desired to have a relationship with you, to spend eternity with you in heaven.  Yet, sin separated you from Me and My Father.  The law required that an acceptable sacrifice of innocent blood was needed for the payment of your sins.  I came to fulfill the law so you wouldn't have to.  It was the only thing that could be done to pay the price completely so that our relationship could be forever restored.

The hour had come when I was going to be tortured and killed for you.  With heaviness of heart, I went out to the garden to pray.  In agony of soul, I sweat drops of blood as I cried out, "oh My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.  nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." Matthew 26:39

While I was in the garden the soldiers came to arrest Me even though I was innocent of any crime.  They brought Me before Pilate's hall.  I stood before My accusers.  Then Pilate took Me and had me beaten and whipped.  Lacerations cut deeply as I took the beating for you.  The soldiers placed a crown of thorns on My head and put Me in a purple robe.  Blood flowed down My face.  There is no beauty that anyone would desire Me.  Then the cheering crowd, shouting, "Crucify Him. Crucify Him!" as I stood there silently, bloody, bruised and beaten. Despised and rejected of men.  Pilate sought to release Me but gave in to the pressure of the crowd.  "Take Him, and crucify Him for I find no faulty in Him" He said to them. Then he delivered Me to be crucified.  You were on my mind when I carried My cross up the lonesome hill to Golgotha.  It was My love for you, and to do My Father's Will, that gave Me the strength to bear beneath its heavy load.  There, I bore your grief and I carried your sorrows laying down My life so you could have life abundantly with Me.  The soldiers sneered giving heavy blows of the hammer driving the n ails deeply into My hands and feet.  Love nailed your sins to the cross, never to be death with again.  They hoisted Me up and left Me to die.  Yet, they did not take My life.  I willingly gave it for you.  The sky grew black.  Even the sun stopped shining. My body wracked with excruciating pain took the weight of your sin and bore its punishment so that the wrath of God could be satisfied and you could be free from guilt.  When all things were accomplished, I committed My spirit into My Father's hands, and breathed out my final words, "It is finished."

Greater love hath no man than this:  that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13  

This is what I did because I desired so much for you to come into my love.

I have done everything I possibly could to demonstrate my love for you.  I have washed you clean, ransomed you back, redeemed you, sanctified you, forgave you, and healed you.  Now I extend my nail pierced hand and say, come follow me.

I love you...

Jesus