He solved the sin problem for good..
1 John 2:2 ( MSG)
The most awesome demonstration of God's loving affection towards a rebellious and fallen human race is the fact that God added humanity to His deity, lived among sinful men and ultimately died the most ghastly death for our sins. I think once in a while we need to be reminded of how guilty we were before God and what would have become of us if Jesus never came. That gruesome death of being crucified on the cross was our death—Yes, we deserved that. To be Crucified, in the ancient Roman world, was considered the most undignifying way to die. In point of fact, crucifixion was reserved for those who were considered to be outright criminals.
The Romans considered it a shame while the Jews saw it as a curse! Yet Jesus who never sinned and never committed a crime was sentenced to die the death of a criminal. Oh! Sweet Jesus! He didn't have to take these suffering and punishment for our sins upon himself but love compelled Him. Hanging there on the cross with outstretched arms and blood dripping from his nail pierced hands, He endured the most excruciating pain as God the Father became His enemy while venting His full wrath and justice against sin on the Son. He hollered:
My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me!?
He wasn't merely asking question out of ignorance! The father forsook Jesus on the Cross and Jesus knew why. If He knew, why then did He ask? Strictly speaking, Jesus wasn't asking a question instead He was quoting Scriptures. What seemed like the Son asking the father a question was actually a quotation from Psalm 22.
While He was on that Cross receiving both the physical and spiritual punishment for our sins, the Lord was most likely ruminating on Psalm 22 and seeing how His suffering fulfilled Scriptures, He burst out talking Scriptures. In the midst of the pain and agony, the Word of God lingered on in His heart.
As horrible as this was, it fulfilled God's good and loving plan of redemption! Therefore, Isaiah could say:
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him!
The mockers around the cross also added to His sufferings by taunting Him and hurling abuses at Him! Oh! Sweet Jesus! You didn't have to pay this ginormous price for me! But it was imperative in order to deliver my soul from Hell. Then He cried out with a loud voice:
It is finished!
The Greek word translated _it is finished_ is _tetelestai_ which means _Paid in full!_ Christ paid the price for our sins in full! We're absolutely redeemed, sanctified, justified and glorified in Christ Jesus!
Jide Akinbuwa
Epistle of Grace Publications
Thank you Jesus!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful. Thanks Bro Jide!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tochi.
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