Matthew 27:46
Because I grew up in a family that attended church every Sunday, I have known from a very early age about Jesus dying on the cross. And I memorized John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” But at times, the familiarity of the story can dull the deep heart-felt gratitude I should have for the sacrifice Father and the Son were willing to pay for my salvation. As we are nearing the Easter celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, I have been asking God for a fresh awareness of what Jesus’ death on the cross means for my life. I’m asking Him to break through the familiarity and give me new spiritual eyes to see and understand and respond to the amazing truth of His death on the cross for my sins and the sins of the whole world.
Why did the Father have to turn away from His beloved Son Jesus as He was crucified? Jesus was the perfect sinless Son. Why was Jesus, the Creator of the world and everything in it, willing to allow Himself to be nailed to the cross as if He were the vilest of criminals? Jesus had told His disciple, Peter, when Roman soldiers had come to arrest Him, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” Jesus was willing to carry out the plan that had been set in motion even before the creation of the world – He knew that He would sacrifice His life as “the Lamb of God” to take the sins of the world on Himself. He was willing to be separated from the Father who could not look on sin. He was willing to be unmercifully beaten, scorned and mocked by those who witnessed the crucifixion – those He had come to save. He was willing to die in our place to pay the death penalty for the sins of the whole world.
He was forsaken for me! For you! And because He was willing to sacrifice Himself for our sins, we can receive God’s forgiveness. God will never turn His back on those who have received the salvation He offered through Jesus’ death on the cross. We are assured of His promise in Hebrews 13:5 “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (NIV). “I will be with you always, even until the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20). We never have to experience separation from the Father here on earth. And because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have the promise of eternal life with Him if we have received His gift of salvation through faith.
Thank You, Lord, for answering my prayer for renewed gratitude for what You have done! Thank You for being willing to die so that I, and all who receive You by faith, can be forgiven and live with you forever!
PERSONAL REFLECTION
Can you identify with being too familiar with the truth of Jesus’ death and resurrection?
Will you ask the Lord for a fresh understanding that will touch your heart in a deeper way?
Set aside some time to thank Him for His willingness to die on the cross and be resurrected so that you can have eternal life.