Slideshow image

Before time began, before the first breath of Adam, before the stars lit up the heavens or the earth was formed out of chaos, there was a plan. Redemption was not God's response to a surprise—it was His eternal design. Revelation 13:8 speaks of Jesus Christ as “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” The cross was not a tragic accident—it was a divinely orchestrated victory. Long before humanity fell, God had already prepared the way to restore us. That plan was written in the eternal counsel of the Triune God, sealed in blood before a single drop had ever been shed.

The beauty of this truth is staggering. God, in His omniscience, knew mankind would rebel. He knew we would sin. He saw the betrayal, the cruelty, the cross—and still, He chose to love. Still, He chose to give. Jesus was not merely a martyr or a moral teacher; He was the eternal Lamb, willingly offering Himself to redeem the unworthy. In the mind of God, the hill called Calvary was already raised, and the nails were already driven. From the very beginning, the shadow of the cross stretched across human history, declaring that salvation would come through sacrifice.

This understanding deepens our awe as we approach the season of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus wasn’t caught in a political trap or the victim of religious jealousy—He was the willing sacrifice. John 10:18 records His own words: “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.” With divine resolve, He stepped into time and clothed Himself in flesh, born to die. The manger and the cross were part of the same redemptive mission. Every step Jesus took was toward Golgotha, where the plan set in eternity past would be fulfilled.

As we begin this month focusing on the death, burial, and resurrection of our Savior, let our hearts be stirred by this truth: before the world was created, God saw you—and He loved you enough to provide a Lamb. The cross was always His plan, and Jesus was always the answer. May this truth ignite a fresh passion in your soul and prepare your heart for the journey to the empty tomb. Redemption was not an afterthought—it was the masterpiece of eternity. Let us walk this month in reverent awe of the Lamb who was slain… for us.