“This is how the love of God was revealed” (1 JOHN 4:9).
1. How does commemorating the death of Jesus every year benefit us?
The commemoration of Christ's death is a reminder of the sacrifice he made so that we could be reconciled to God. This event strengthens our faith in the rescue and prompts us to demonstrate gratitude through our behavior.
Not only is it an occasion to reflect on what Jehovah and Jesus have done for us, but it also encourages us to follow Christ's example in our daily lives.
Furthermore, by commemorating this event, we demonstrate our obedience to Jesus, who said in Luke 22:19, "Keep doing this in remembrance of me." This celebration also fosters unity among Christians, as we all come together for the same purpose: to honor Christ's sacrifice and renew our appreciation for him.
2. What will we see in this article?
The commemoration is not only an annual event, but it is a time to reflect on the profound lessons that the rescue leaves us with. As the paragraph mentions, the 2025 commemoration will be on Saturday, April 12 and is a special time to meditate and better understand Jehovah's immense love and perfect justice.
Jehovah did not overlook sin, but made it possible for humanity to have a chance at redemption without compromising his righteous standards. In fact, this article will focus on what the ransom teaches us about Jehovah and Jesus, helping us strengthen our relationship with them.
WHAT THE RESCUE TEACHES US ABOUT JEHOVAH
3. How could the death of a single man rescue millions of people? (See also images).
The death of a single man, Jesus, could rescue millions of people because it directly compensated for Adam's sin. Deuteronomy 32:4 reminds us that Jehovah loves justice and acts righteously.
When Adam disobeyed, he transmitted sin and death to all his descendants. As a result, humanity became enslaved to sin, with no possibility of freeing itself. However, Jehovah provided a just solution. If a single perfect man caused the doom, a single perfect man could pay the price to free humanity.
Romans 5:19 explains that, just as Adam's disobedience made us sinners, Jesus' obedience allows us to be declared righteous. Jesus gave his perfect life as a corresponding ransom, thus equaling the value of what Adam lost.
ILLUSTRATION
Series of images: 1. Adam standing and in the background some people carry a coffin in a funeral procession. 2. Jesus standing and in the background people from different times, races, cultures and backgrounds.
One man enslaved us to death and sin, and one man freed us. (See paragraph 3).
4. Why couldn't Jehovah simply let Adam's obedient descendants live forever?
If Jehovah had allowed some of Adam's descendants to live forever simply because they were obedient, he would have ignored the principle of justice. Jehovah's justice is not flexible or arbitrary, but perfect and consistent with his own principles.
Psalm 89:14 says, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne,” indicating that Jehovah acts with a perfect balance between mercy and justice.
The condemnation of sin fell on all humanity. Jehovah could not simply overturn that sentence without a legal basis; doing so would have undermined his own law and given the impression that Adam's disobedience had no real consequences.
5. Why can we be convinced that Jehovah will always do what is right?
We can be convinced that Jehovah will always do what is right because he has demonstrated that his justice is perfect and unwavering.
If he had allowed Adam's descendants to live forever without paying the ransom, he would have overlooked his own justice. This could have raised questions about whether he would also ignore other fundamental principles in the future, such as keeping his promises.
Furthermore, Satan strives to portray Jehovah as an unjust ruler, so by maintaining his justice he has demonstrated that his government is upright and trustworthy. Furthermore, you give us complete assurance that you will never act unfairly or inconsistently.
6. How does the ransom help us see how much Jehovah loves us? (1 John 4:9, 10).
The rescue not only shows Jehovah's justice, but also highlights his immense love. Unlike a human judge who passes a cold and distant sentence, Jehovah did the unthinkable: he sacrificed his own son to save us.
Romans 5:10 and 11 mention that, although we were enemies of God because of sin, we have been reconciled to Him through the death of Jesus. This gives us the opportunity to have a close relationship with Jehovah.
This rescue is the greatest example of love because it did not limit itself to giving us life, but it gave us the opportunity to be part of its family. This means that Jehovah sees us not only as servants, but as children whom he deeply loves. Even now, when we are imperfect, we can approach Him with confidence because we know He loves us and wants the best for us.
7. How does thinking about Jesus' suffering help us understand how much Jehovah loves us?
Jesus' sacrifice not only demonstrates justice, but also highlights Jehovah's incomparable love. Jehovah could have intervened at any time and freed his son from suffering, but he allowed Jesus to complete his mission so that humanity would have the opportunity to receive eternal life. This act reflects Jehovah's enormous patience and love.
Jesus suffered not only physically, but also emotionally as he saw people's rejection and ridicule. Furthermore, Jesus' loyalty under suffering refuted Satan's charge that no one would be faithful to God in difficult circumstances.
This reinforces confidence that Jehovah will always do what is right and that his love is absolutely reliable. Therefore, this analysis helps us value Jesus' sacrifice even more and understand how much Jehovah loves us.
8. Why do we know that Jehovah felt pain when he saw his Son suffer? (See also the image).
Although Jehovah did not use his power to prevent his son from suffering, this does not mean that he was insensitive to pain. The Bible shows that Jehovah, as a being who created us in his image, also has the ability to feel emotions.
In Psalm 78:40 and 41 we are told that there were people who hurt his feelings and made him sad, which shows that Jehovah has deep emotions.
Therefore, Jehovah experienced great sadness when he saw his son suffer so cruelly. The Bible does not give us specific details about how Jehovah felt, but we can imagine how deeply affected he must have been.
ILLUSTRATION
Jesus on the torture stake.
It pained Jehovah very much to see his Son suffer. (See paragraph 8).
9. What does Romans 8:32, 38, 39 teach you about Jehovah's love for you and all his servants?
These verses emphasize that by sending his son, Jehovah showed his deep love for us. Unlike any other type of human love, Jehovah's love is perfect and unconditional.
Verse 32 highlights Jehovah's sacrifice in giving his son to save us. Furthermore, in verses 38 and 39 we are assured that nothing, neither the most terrible nor the strongest, can separate us from that love.
Jehovah's response to human sin was not with condemnation, but with an indescribable display of love. Although we, as imperfect humans, have desires and ambitions, Jehovah wants more than anything for us to live forever and respond to him with obedience.
The rescue is not only a sign of justice, but a testimony of Jehovah's love for all human beings.
WHAT THE RESCUE TEACHES US ABOUT JESUS
10. a) What was Jesus' most distressed before he died?
Jesus was deeply distressed by the impact his sacrifice would have on the reputation of his Father, Jehovah. He was greatly concerned about the possibility of being accused of blasphemy and sedition, and how this could dishonor the name of Jehovah.
This is reflected in his prayer at Matthew 26:39, where he expresses his desire that, if possible, Jehovah would remove that cup from him. However, despite this anguish, his loyalty to Jehovah and his desire to fulfill divine will led him to remain steadfast to the end.
10. b) In what ways did Jesus vindicate Jehovah's name? (See also the box “The Integrity of Jesus Vindicated the Name of Jehovah.”)
Jesus vindicated Jehovah's name in various ways during his life and death. First, by remaining faithful and loyal to Jehovah even in the midst of the most extreme trials, Jesus demonstrated that humans can be faithful to God, thus refuting Satan's charge that, when faced with difficulties, humans would cease to be faithful to Jehovah.
Furthermore, by maintaining his integrity to the end, Jesus proved that Jehovah was not to blame for Adam's sin. Jesus, being perfect, chose to be faithful to Jehovah, which shows that Adam, being equally perfect, could have done the same. In this way, Jesus vindicated Jehovah's name, showing his justice, integrity, and love.
ILLUSTRATION
Jesus prays fervently in the garden of Gethsemane.
By giving his life, Jesus showed how much he loves his Father. (See paragraph 10).
11. How did Jesus show that he loved people deeply? (John 13:1).
Jesus' love for people was evident in every aspect of his ministry. Not only did he do his job out of duty, but he put his heart into everything he did. Despite the difficulties and suffering he knew he would face, he dedicated himself to teaching and helping others.
The night before his death, he showed humility by washing the feet of his disciples and giving them lessons in love and service. Even as he lay dying on the stake, he cared about the well-being of others. He assured the repentant criminal that he would have a future in paradise and entrusted Juan with the care of his mother. These acts reflect his unconditional love and his desire that everyone can benefit from the rescue.
12. In what ways has Jesus continued to make sacrifices for us?
Jesus not only sacrificed his life for us, but he continues to work hard for humanity. As king, he is gathering the anointed and the great crowd before the Great Tribulation ends.
In Ephesians 1:10, Paul mentions the gathering together of things in heaven, which refers to Jehovah choosing his spiritual children by anointing them with the Holy Spirit.
Instead, in Matthew 24:31 and Mark 13:27, Jesus speaks of gathering the elect, referring to when the anointed ones still on earth are taken to heaven during the Great Tribulation.
As high priest, he also intercedes on behalf of humanity and allows us to draw closer to Jehovah. He makes sure his servants are well-fed spiritually in these last days.
Furthermore, during his thousand-year reign, he will continue to help us achieve perfection. Thus, Jesus' sacrifice was not only limited to his death, but his love and dedication continue to benefit us.
Even though Christ died, he continues to work for us as king, high priest, and leader of the congregation. He is responsible for gathering the anointed and the great crowd and ensures that his servants are well nourished spiritually.
During his reign, he will continue to work to help us. This highlights that Jesus' sacrifice was not only for his death, but for everything he currently does for the benefit of humanity.
NEVER STOP LEARNING
13. How can meditation help you continue to learn more about the love that God and Christ have for us?
Meditation is a powerful tool to deepen the love that Jehovah and Jesus Christ have for us. During the season of remembrance, reading one or more gospels calmly, rather than rushing to cover too much information, helps us reflect on the loving acts of Jesus and his Father.
This allows us to strengthen our faith and our appreciation for the rescue. Furthermore, sharing what we discover with others not only helps us remember these truths, but also strengthens our fellow believers.
14. According to Psalm 119:97 and the note, what should we do to continue learning about the rescue and other teachings? (See also the image).
Even though we have been in the truth for many years, we never stop learning about Jehovah's rescue, justice, and love, because there are always new details to discover. To continue learning, it is important to take advantage of the resources available in the publications and delve deeper into the scriptures.
If we find a text that we do not understand, we can investigate its meaning and context. In addition, daily meditation helps us better assimilate what we learn and strengthen our love for Jehovah and Jesus. As Psalm 119:97 mentions, constantly reflecting on God's law allows us to grow spiritually.
ILLUSTRATION
An older brother does his personal study with the Bible, a tablet and a notebook. See the table “Jesus' Last Week on Earth (Part 2),” which appears in Appendix B12-B of the “New World Translation.” Also consult chapter 129 of the book “Jesus: the way, the truth and the life.”
Even if we have been in the truth for many years, our gratitude for the rescue can grow more and more. (See paragraph 14).
15. Why should we continue searching for the treasures found in the Bible?
When studying the Bible, sometimes we may not discover something new or exciting right away. But that does not mean that our study is in vain.
Psalm 119:17 tells us that every teaching of the Bible is a treasure of great value, superior to gold. Therefore, just as gold seekers spend time and effort hoping to find something valuable, we must be patient and persistent in our Bible study.
Proverbs 8:10 mentions that the key is not to get discouraged and to continue meditating on what we learn. If we are constant, we will find truths that will strengthen our faith and bring us closer to Jehovah.
16. How can we imitate Jehovah and Jesus?
To imitate Jehovah, we should strive to be impartial and treat others fairly, regardless of class, nationality, or background.
Jesus, for his part, showed deep love for both his Father and people, even when this brought him suffering. Following his example, we must be willing to endure trials to bear the name of God and help our brothers, even if that means sacrifices.
We must also dedicate time to preaching so that more people can benefit from the rescue. By doing this, we reflect the attributes of Jehovah and Jesus in our lives.
17. What will we see in the next article?
The rescue is a supreme expression of the love of Jehovah and his son, and the more we understand and value it, the more our love for them will grow. In turn, Jehovah and Jesus will also love us more, as indicated in John 14:21 and James 4:8.
In the following article, we will reflect on the benefits of ransom and ways we can show our gratitude to God for this incomparable gift.
WHAT DOES RESCUE TEACH YOU ABOUT THE FOLLOWING QUALITIES?
Jehovah's justice
Jehovah demonstrated his justice by demanding a perfect payment for Adam's sin, but also by lovingly providing the ransom through his son, thus ensuring that his justice and mercy were in balance.
The love of Jehovah
The rescue shows Jehovah's immense love, as he was willing to give up his only begotten son so that humanity would have the opportunity to obtain eternal life.
The love of Jesus
Jesus demonstrated his love by volunteering to die for humanity, putting his Father's will and the well-being of people before his own desires.
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