On this day, many years ago, Jesus was nailed to a cross. The religious leaders of the day thought they were ridding themselves of a troublemaker, who dared challenge their authority. Some saw Him as crazy. Some saw Him as a zealot. Some saw Him as a threat to their on posotion. yet I daresay none of those who wtched Him die saw Him for who He was.
Immanuel, God with us. The long awaited Messiah. The Savior of the world. He was exactly Who He said he was.
Why then, did He have to die on the cross?
All men, in all times, have sinned. No man who has lived has been free of sin. you see, a single sin will keep us out of heaven, out of an eternity with God, and will instead condemn us to an eternity in Hell. The Bible tells us no sin can enter heaven. Revelation 21:27 says “and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” If God were to allow any sin into Heaven, it would be defiled. It would be like earth. It would no longer be perfect.
But God wants us there with Him, in Heaven, for eternity, because He loves us. Yet if we cannot live without committing sin, how can we get there.
Well, that’s why Jesus died on the cross. He died to take the punishment for our sins. All of our sins, every one in the world, then, now, and in the future, had God’s wrath taken out on them at the cross. 2 Corinthians 5:21 tell us “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become therighteousness of God in Him.” Jesus was sinless, blameless, perfectly innocent in every way. His death paid for our sins.
So that debt of sin you and I have built up, and continue to build up, separates us from God. And if left unresolved, it will do so for an eternity. But resolving it is really not difficult. John 3:16 tells us “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Romans 10:9-10 says “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”
If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior this day, why not come before Him in prayer, confessing you are a sinner, and you need His forgiveness? Ask Him to wash away your sins, and to be Lord and Savior of your life, believing only in Him. He’ll be faithful to do so, and you’ll know you will be prepared to go before God, not on your own merits, but because of the price Jesus paid on the cross for your sins. And more importantly, you’ll have a new life, re-birthed in the Holy Spirit, ready to serve the Lord as he leads you.
Jesus died on the cross this day for you, friend, to pay the price for your sins, because He loves you so much.
But the story does not end there…. Sunday is coming!