25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. Eph 5:25–30.
Christ definitely had His Church in mind when He came and when He died and when He resurrected and eventually ascended.
His Church is ever in His Mind.
His whole thought was on those the Father gave the Son:
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but dI lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. Jn 10:14–18.
Christ cried out in a loud voice, "Father, forgive them..."
The "Them" are those that are His Church, past, present, and future.
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. Jn 17:9–10.
Our High Priest was concentrated on His Ministry of praying for the people of God and offering sacrifice for the people of God.
He was extremely conscientious and well purposed to His work.
Christ definitely had His Church in mind when He came and when He died and when He resurrected and eventually ascended.
His Church is ever in His Mind.
His whole thought was on those the Father gave the Son:
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but dI lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. Jn 10:14–18.
Christ cried out in a loud voice, "Father, forgive them..."
The "Them" are those that are His Church, past, present, and future.
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. Jn 17:9–10.
Our High Priest was concentrated on His Ministry of praying for the people of God and offering sacrifice for the people of God.
He was extremely conscientious and well purposed to His work.
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