This could have been your destiny, and mine. It is the destiny for those who refuse to accept Jesus. Talking about the cross – what it means, why it happened, what this means for us, helping others understand, etc. – is never as complex as we tend to make it nor as simple. Simply: there had to be an atonement for the sins of the world and not just anyone could accomplish this goal. It had to be a sinless man. Why? Because it was a sinful man that caused the problem. And it would take a righteous, sin-less man to provide the offering.
If that sounds harsh you have to remember that God is everything that He says He is. When, by His own name He swore by His word, He could not go against His own ordinances. And yes, that is difficult to understand and accept. But remember Jesus’s words when He said He had come not to abolish the law but to fulfill it. Equally difficult to understand and accept is that only God’s Son, Jesus, could accomplish this act. Remember the temptation by the devil to Jesus:
“He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you. In their
hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a
stone.” (Psalm 91:11-12)
And the Lord’s reply: “I has been said, You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” (Luke 4:12) Jesus CHOSE to be our offering, our sacrifice so that we could become the righteousness in Him (2Corinthians 5, Ephesians 2, etc.). What Jesus accomplished for us is inestimable because He became our way, the only way (Acts 4:12), to salvation and with this He swung the door wide open for us to experience the return to relationship through Him, son(daughter)ship, empowerment, and so much more. He is the one bringing gifts when we accept Him!
I know we shall never fully realize the cost Jesus endured to be separated from the Father… or the Father’s loss when Jesus accepted the cross to become our sacrifice – but it is our choice, our gift to receive. We can become more conscious of what our reoccurring negative behavior costs, especially when we don’t act and speak in love. When we choose not to be all that we can be, and yes – that is a choice, and do those things or say those words or become that person that doesn’t honor the gift given by the cross, we don’t act on all that’s been given us. It’s almost like a slap in the face.
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are
perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (v 18)
…to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the
power of God and the wisdom of God.” (v 24) 1Corinthians 18
How could a loving God sacrifice His only Son? Why would the Son, who did so many amazingly wonderful acts give up His ministry after only 3 years? Because of you. Because of me. Because of love. So,
“…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares
us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking
unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that
was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has
sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)
The cross is no little thing … neither is our response.
