Have you ever sat down and read through the gospels? Or at least the entire account of Good Friday through Resurrection Sunday? Have you taken the time to really think about the details?
I remember when I did that for the first time, really taking my time. Everyone knows “Jesus died on the cross for our sins”, but He did so much more than that.
He suffered mockery, beatings, being spit upon, being unjustly accused, and was abandoned by close friends.
He carried the weight of what He had to do for years. He always knew He would be murdered.
Brutally murdered. With blood running down His face, nails driven through His hands and feet, humiliated as He hung upon a cross He did not deserve. He hung between two thieves – unworthy sinners – and His murderers watched His slow, painful death for entertainment.
Jesus saw His heartbroken mother. He made sure she would be cared for.
He saw His abusers and asked God to forgive them.
Even during these moments of horrible pain, Christ thought of others.
And He, having lived a sinless life in perfect holiness, endured the wrath of God poured out on Him. Wrath that should have justly been poured out on sinners – including you and me.
This is not the Gospel in its entirety – that starts in Genesis. But these hours of atonement were the fulfillment of many promises, the accomplishment of why He came, and the day prophecies saw their fruition.
“It is finished!” He cried, as He willingly gave up His Spirit. He was not truly forced to the cross. He offered Himself as a sacrifice, for the joy of what was to come. For His glory. For our good.
God’s wrath was satisfied. The debt was nailed to the cross. The salvation of all God’s people was eternally secured.
Sunday morning, Christ arose victorious. Sin, death, and hell were forever defeated. The work was accomplished and Christ was close to going home to His Father.
But before He went, He left His disciples with instructions: Go and preach the good news! Share the Gospel. Teach truth.
So they did. The church grew. God was glorified.
He still is glorified when we continue to preach the message Christ Himself delivered: “The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel!”
Repent and believe in the Gospel. Then you can know true, everlasting life – only possible because of what Christ accomplished that first Easter weekend:
Redemption.
“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” Colossians 2:13-15
References: Matthew 27, 27, & 28; Hebrews 12:1-2; Matthew 28:19-20; John 19:28-30; John 20:30; Mark 1:14-15; Colossians 2:13-15
The Misplaced Mom 
Leave a comment