Gospels

The work of Jesus on the cross was applied to this condemned man. All his sin was laid on Jesus, and he passed from death to life. Such is the power of grace. Such is the fullness of forgiveness.

Too many people use the guilt and shame of sin as a barrier between themselves and God. Many believe they must clean up their acts before God will accept them. The problem with that thinking is this: no one can clean up their life on their own. Only Jesus can do that. Lay your sin—the sin He died for—before Him and let His forgiveness wash over your heart.

Exhausted by the beatings and floggings of the day, Jesus collapsed under the load. A man from Cyrene was forced to carry the cross for Jesus. Little did Simon of Cyrene know that the cross was actually for his sins…and yours and mine. Simon carried the cross to Golgotha, then laid it down for the Savior to become our sacrifice.

The Almighty took on flesh and made His dwelling among us. His existence was for this painful purpose. Sin had separated man from God. Death was sin’s penalty. Jesus, fully God and fully man, took on death for us. The Sinless One died for sinful man. The penalty of sin was paid for in full at the cross. He sacrificed Himself for you.

What an amazing scenario! The people chose to have a dangerous man back on the streets rather than have Jesus live. The innocent would die. The guilty went free. The same applies today. The spotless Lamb of God bore our sin in His body on the cross. He died in our place so we could be free forever.

Jesus did not come to perform. He did not come to show us another sign. His mission was clear. He came to die so we could live. He purchased life for us by His death on the cross. Signs will draw a crowd; the cross drew scorn. Signs will fade away; the cross purchased life eternal. Jesus let His actions speak for Him. He came to give His life as a ransom for many.

Jesus did not respond because He was not a victim to a trial; He was a servant following the Father’s plan. The Sinless One gave no defense of His innocence. The time had come for the cross. Jesus was about His Father’s business.

For some reason, Judas couldn’t grasp forgiveness. The shame drove him deeper into his guilt instead of to the forgiving Lord. He took matters into his own hands and ended his life. Judas not only betrayed Jesus, but he also ran from the One who could forgive him, even after the kiss.

All of us can relate to Peter, can’t we? We have remained silent as others use Jesus’ name as slang. We have remained silent as His claims have been laughed at. We have even joined in the laughter as His person is satirized. We have ignored His Word by open rebellion. We have followed Peter in our own denials, but have we joined him in remorse and repentance?