The Sacrifice of Jesus

Why would Jesus leave a throne to carry a cross and die a tragic death?

This question must be asked. Jesus’ answer to the question is that He needed to suffer your death so that you might live eternally.

• Jesus carried His cross on your behalf.
• He knows your first and last sin but considers your life so valuable that He died in your place.
• He had no sin in Him until He took your sins on Himself.
• He qualified for no punishment, but He took your punishment.
• He took your punishment so you would not be punished.
• He had no guilt but bore your guilt.
• He took your guilt so you would be declared not guilty.
• He took your shame so you would not be full of shame before God Almighty.
• He deserved no pain as Creator, but He took your pain.

And if you are full of rebellion, sin, shame, and guilt today and decide to take Him as your Savior—just as you are—He will forget your sin, shame, and guilt.

Because His compassion reaches to the heights of humanity and to the lowest of the needy, He bids you to come to Him and drink freely of the water that gives life.

No matter who you are or where you have been, this Jesus knows the feelings of your pain, rejection, hurt, and sorrow. He bore your hurt to fill your void. He satisfies your longing for hope, for life, for strength. And most of all, he fulfills your longing for love.

No matter what you have done or what you have become, you are welcome, if only you come. That is why He says to all of us who have experienced these emotions, “Come,” so that He might satisfy your longing for eternity and give you eternal life.

This coming is to Jesus, not to an organization. You come to Jesus, not to rules or standards or duty.

Only to Jesus does God bid you to come as Jesus bid Peter to come. You come to the Jesus who said:

• To the lepers, “‘Be clean (Matthew 8:3)!’”
• To the lame, “‘... take your mat and go home (Mark 2:11).’”
• To the dead, “‘... get up (Mark 5:41)!’”

His offer to you involves an everlasting experience.

He does not offer you fame but forgiveness. He does not offer you wealth but peace. He does not offer you success but life. And if you are lonely today, He will overshadow you. And if you are broken, He will heal you.

If you take His forgiveness, He gives you the significance you seek. If you receive Him, He gives you His peace for which you long. If you experience His life, you thrive in life. His touch will bring healing to your broken heart.

This begs a second question. Why would Jesus walk such a difficult path for you and me?

We’ll explore this question next week.

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