The Cross: It Was All for Us!

When I think of the cross, I’m reminded of what Jesus went to the cross for.. ALL OF US!

John 3:16 “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.

I’m reminded when Jesus hung on the Cross, and the darkness overtook the land. Matthew 27:46 tells us about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud [agonized] voice, [a]“Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Separated So We Wouldn’t Have to Be!

God the Father turned away… Jesus the Son was separated from God the Father for the first and only time in all of Eternity! And because He was.. we are no longer separated from the Father! This was the utmost suffering for our Jesus on the Cross!

When a person carried a cross in Jesus’ day, they were facing the most painful and humiliation means of death -crucifixion. The Romans forced convicted criminals to carry their own crosses to the place of crucifixion. As they would carry their cross, they were ridiculed all the way to their death.

John 19:17- Amplified Bible 17 “So they took Jesus, and He went out, [a]bearing His own cross, to the place called [b]the Place of the Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.”

Conformed to His Likeness

Today Christians view the cross as a cherished symbol of atonement, forgiveness, grace and love. Therefore, Jesus commands us to take up our cross and follow Him. God has a plan and purpose for each of one of us, His blood-bought children. That purpose is to be like Jesus. And it is by faith in God that He performs this change – and He takes time! He uses life’s circumstances, ( good, bad and ill) to prepare us for ultimate maturity. Though we are accepted in Him, we need to be conformed into His likeness.

The Cross is for us, in our place, on our behalf. He laid down his life for His sheep. He is our sacrificial lamb. John 1:29. Without the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, we would be without hope and without forgiveness. Isaiah 64:6 lets us know our righteous acts are like filthy rags. Even on our good days with best intentions, without the blood of Jesus, we deserve death as the punishment for our sins. “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 55:6. We did nothing to earn our forgiveness and everything to deserve punishment. But in God’s great love for us, He sent His son and took our punishment upon Himself.

Covered By His Blood

Although God is all-merciful, all-powerful, and all-forgiving, God is also holy, righteous, and just. Holiness is incompatible with sin. Our sin completely separates us from God and His holiness demands that sin and rebellion be paid for by punishment. The only penalty or payment for sin is eternal death. If Jesus hadn’t died on the cross to take our place, we would be forever separated from God. We are covered by His blood through His sacrificial death, our sins are paid for, and we no longer have to die an eternal death. We receive eternal life through Jesus Christ. This is why Jesus had to die. Romans 5:10 says, “For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life.”

We are covered by His blood through His sacrificial death, our sins are paid for, and we no longer have to die an eternal death. We receive eternal life through Jesus Christ.

God loved us enough to save us from ourselves! If you haven’t asked God for salvation and forgiveness, it’s never too late. Romans 10:9-10 says that “if you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

Being reminded of the Cross – makes me want to walk in what he died for .. I want to be Holy, and surrendered!

Get Your Worship On!

Here are just a couple of songs that have really ministered to me..

Lord Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary by Oasis Worship:

“Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary pure and holy, tried and true with thanksgiving , I’ll be a living sanctuary for You – Lord prepare me to be a testimony.”

Grace to Grace by Hillsong Worship:

“When I see the cross, I see freedom, I see Jesus and from death to life, I will sing your praise in the wonder of your grace.”