The magnitude of the crucifixion of Jesus has never hit me quite like it has in the last few days. Don’t get me wrong, I know the magnitude of the gift that we have received, but I just didn’t think about it to the fullest.
Jesus was arrested the night prior to his execution and that is when his suffering began. People judged him for doing nothing wrong and our punishment was placed on him because he was and still is the only one who lived completely without sin. This has caused me to try to live my life free of sin and live Christ-like. While I still stumble, I know that I am a completely different man than I was or would have been without Christ in my life.
Still, I always thought of Jesus dying for everyone at once, and while I knew he died for my sins I didn’t think of him on the cross thinking of me specifically. All that I have done wrong in the eyes of God were in the mind of Jesus when he was on the cross. Imagine Jesus thinking in his head… “Jonathan, you’ve done wrong and now I am taking your punishment so you can be free of sin” and imagine this on his mind from the point he was beaten, to the weight of the cross on his back, to the nails, and finally to his last breath. The whole time thinking that Jonathan is worth all of this, and where most people would reach their limits of love, Christ proved that love could withstand the cruelest of punishments. You see, it wasn’t a quick death or a quick sacrifice that Jesus went through, but rather a long and drawn out punishment for my sins.
Do you think he did this just for me? Even if you have not accepted Christ into your heart, he did this for you. You see, God’s great plan, from the beginning, was to conquer sin. God is far greater than all others and didn’t want to share his seat for the judgment of his children with sin. When God took away the sin through the death of his son, he secured his seat of judgment and ensured that no other factors would be considered into your fate except the one question about your decision to follow Christ or reject Christ.
Take my name out of the above thought… “Your Name, you’ve done wrong and now I am taking your punishment so you can be free of sin.” So that’s it, no matter what your sins - they are forgiven. The only question you should ask is if you follow Christ or if you reject Christ. No way around it, everyone has to answer the question – so what is your decision?
Your name…Your decision.
Jesus was arrested the night prior to his execution and that is when his suffering began. People judged him for doing nothing wrong and our punishment was placed on him because he was and still is the only one who lived completely without sin. This has caused me to try to live my life free of sin and live Christ-like. While I still stumble, I know that I am a completely different man than I was or would have been without Christ in my life.
Still, I always thought of Jesus dying for everyone at once, and while I knew he died for my sins I didn’t think of him on the cross thinking of me specifically. All that I have done wrong in the eyes of God were in the mind of Jesus when he was on the cross. Imagine Jesus thinking in his head… “Jonathan, you’ve done wrong and now I am taking your punishment so you can be free of sin” and imagine this on his mind from the point he was beaten, to the weight of the cross on his back, to the nails, and finally to his last breath. The whole time thinking that Jonathan is worth all of this, and where most people would reach their limits of love, Christ proved that love could withstand the cruelest of punishments. You see, it wasn’t a quick death or a quick sacrifice that Jesus went through, but rather a long and drawn out punishment for my sins.
Do you think he did this just for me? Even if you have not accepted Christ into your heart, he did this for you. You see, God’s great plan, from the beginning, was to conquer sin. God is far greater than all others and didn’t want to share his seat for the judgment of his children with sin. When God took away the sin through the death of his son, he secured his seat of judgment and ensured that no other factors would be considered into your fate except the one question about your decision to follow Christ or reject Christ.
Take my name out of the above thought… “Your Name, you’ve done wrong and now I am taking your punishment so you can be free of sin.” So that’s it, no matter what your sins - they are forgiven. The only question you should ask is if you follow Christ or if you reject Christ. No way around it, everyone has to answer the question – so what is your decision?
Your name…Your decision.
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