For the past couple of years, a common theme I keep hearing from both followers of Christ and non-Christians alike (usually around the time of Easter) is that Jesus dying on the cross makes them sad.
Maybe this sounds harsh to some, but sad isn't the word I'd use to describe it.
Somber? Yes.
More aware of the gravity of my sin? Yes.
Sad? Not so much.
Jesus died on the cross to raise from the dead three days later. He is alive and has conquered the grave! The story ends in victory! And though Good Friday is painful for us to be reminded of, it is fully immersed in love. For you. And for me. This is the greatest love story ever written. And it's written by our Maker for us.
If Jesus never died on the cross and rose again, that would be you and I up there on the tree. Dying a death that we so deserve. Bearing the weight of our sin like we should.
But Love stopped the story from ending that way. Love died in our place. Love took the shame and the mockery and the beatings and the death when He was sinless. Love took the Father turning His face away. Love humbled Himself and received the worst death sentence ever so that you and I could receive eternal life.
And not just a ticket into heaven, but a transformative life here on this earth. Salvation is only half of the Gospel. Sanctification is the other half. Jesus tells us that eternal life is to know Him (John 17:3). So my question to you today, friends, is this: Do you know Him? If we have not entered into a transformative relationship with Jesus here on this earth, we have not accepted this gift of eternal life.
I'm not sad when I think of my Savior hanging on the cross, I'm grateful and find myself rejoicing. Because He died and rose from the dead, we are able to have a relationship with a Living God. Sometimes we forget this fact. Yesterday in a game, one of my (Christian) friends made a reference to Jesus being dead. He is not dead! He is alive! How do we, as Christians, breeze over that fact?!
Because He conquered death we can have a relationship with Him! Because He conquered death we have the power to conquer sin! The same power that rose Jesus from the dead lives in you (Romans 8:11) if you have entered into a saving relationship with Christ. As I said before, the Easter story ends in victory. And we can enter into that victory over our sin if we allow Him to work in and through us.
"I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 1:19-20; emphasis mine). I don't think that most of us have even begun to understand what a powerful gift the Holy Spirit is. I don't think that most of us have even scratched the surface. When Jesus left us with the gift of the Spirit, He said we will do greater works than He did during His time here on earth (John 14:12). #WeDon'tEvenKnow
Because He conquered death we can be healed if we are in a saving relationship with Him.
"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:3).
By His wounds we are healed.
Let us never forget that.
Any healing and restoration that Jesus has brought into the various aspects of my life over the past 3 1/2 years I can only attribute to His work on the cross.
I'm not saying that it's not important to know deep in your soul the pain and agony that your Savior went through for you. I'm not saying that it shouldn't bother you. In fact, it should do quite the opposite: It should change your life.
But the cross for me isn't a gravesite.
It's a living hope.
It's the point where true freedom begins.
It's the point where love and grace and mercy and truth and power intersect.
I guess you could say that for me, it's a grace-site.
But when Christ came as a high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!... In fact the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. [Hebrews 9:11-14; 22; emphasis mine]
