The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who desires take the free gift of the water of life. Revelation 22:17

   Jesus opened his ministry on earth by calling out to fishermen casting their nets into the Sea of Galilee: “Come, follow me!” Later, He sent out invitations to the tired and poor: “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened.” Jesus made it clear to His disciples that children were included in the Kingdom: “Let the little children come to me.” In the final words of John’s Revelation, the Spirit once again calls out, “Come!” It seems fitting that the Bible should end with yet another invitation. Our God is a gracious Father, continually bidding us to come.

  He understands our thirst for meaning and purpose, so He holds out the gift of eternal life to anyone who desires it. The free gift of salvation came at a great cost, however.

   After six hours on the cross, the purchase price of salvation had been paid with the blood of the Son of God. Just hours earlier, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus had asked the Father three times to let the cup pass. The “cup” represented the suffering He would experience as He received the wrath of God unleashed upon Him for our sins. Jesus was hoping for a way out of drinking down the sin of the world. Yet, He said, “Not my will but Yours be done,” and He agreed to drink the cup of suffering, the entire cup, down to the dregs.

   As Jesus was nearing the end, perhaps He was pointing to the fact that the cup was now nearly empty and that He didn’t want to miss a drop. His own thirst for our salvation compelled Him to leave nothing unfinished, no sin unaccounted for.

Lord Jesus, my heart aches with sorrow knowing my sin held you on the cross. And now, instead of the punishment I deserve, You offer me the free gift of life. Your victory over death changed everything, including me.