“And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.” Mark 10:34.
The sacrifice of Christ on the cross, His resurrection and His ascension into heaven to mediate on behalf of mankind are the most important events in the history of the cosmic universe! The Bible teaches that an atonement took place on the cross; by which those who accept Christ’s death as a substitute and as a sacrifice for sin are reconciled to the Creator.
Jesus was the Lamb of God who was slain (John 1:29). Jesus’ life was offered to satisfy the demands of God’s justice (1 Peter 2:24). When we accept and believe in Christ, He then becomes our sin offering and we are brought into the favor of God (Romans 5:1).
“Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.” Psalm 69:20.
Christ’s heart was broken on the cross because He died alone, forsaken by God (Matthew 27:46). Jesus bore the full weight of God’s wrath on the cross for all our sins. Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace and the Majesty of Heaven, became sin for us – the very thing that God abhors.
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21.
Why? Because there was no other way for us to be saved than through the cross. Sin causes death and we are all doomed to die because all have sinned. Sin will result in our eternal death unless there is someone who is willing to take our place. Praise God there was someone; that someone is Jesus.
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Roman 6:23.
This is the greatest news of all eternity. This is true, everlasting love. May we not just reflect on this intellectually. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus must not just be understood or grasped philosophically.
The gospel story must be received into our hearts as well as into our minds. Let us receive Christ through a constant, living connection with Him. Let us follow Him through an abiding relationship that is based on love, passion and obedience. Let us encounter God this weekend and every day of our lives through Jesus Christ. This encounter will result in pardon, reconciliation, a new life, freedom, peace, love, joy and everlasting life!
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