Chaos

A betrayal.

An arrest.

Multiple trials.

The sentence.

The beating.

The mocking.

A crown made out of thorns shoved into place.

Carrying a cross that should have been mine.

Nails driven into hands and feet.

Being hung on a cross, in public humiliation, to die.

This wasn't something that the Jews did to Jesus. This was something Christ did so that I could spend eternity with Him. In one moment, He took all the sin - of every single person - upon Himself so that we could be reconciled to God. His blood was shed for me and for you. Jesus, who was 100% God, humbled Himself to walk this earth as a man (not losing any of his diety) so that He could pay for our sin. The ultimate sacrifice.

Think about it. Would you be willing to die for someone? Most parents would die for their children in a heartbeat. But, would you be willing to die for someone that commited a crime and they deserved punishment? That is what Christ did for all of us.

Salvation is through faith. Faith that Jesus came to this world and lived a sinless life, that He died on the cross for my sin, was buried and rose on the third day...conquering all sin. We can have eternal life with Him if we believe that we are sinners and that His sacrifice is the only way to heaven. Not by anything that we do, but everything that He did.

In the movie "Courageous", they give one of the best analogies I've heard. Think of someone you love with all your heart. What if they were brutally murdered? The murderer stands in front of judge and apologizes for the wrong-doing. He asks the judge to let him go and not punish him b/c he is sorry and has lived a really good life up to this point. The judge looks at the murderer and says, "I can't do that. If I am truly a just and good judge, then I have to punish you for the crime you commited, even if its the only one."

This is God in our lives. He a just and good God. Not one of us is sinless! We can never be "good enough". Our good deeds can never outweigh the bad b/c one sin separates us from Him.

Its humbling to think of how awesome grace is. Salvation is something we don't deserve, yet Christ paid the price for every one of us. All you have to do is believe that His death and resurrection are the payment for your sin. Believe that God took your place.

The chaos of the day ended in grief for those who loved Jesus. Sadness for those who may not have known Him personally while He walked the earth, but because they had hoped He might truly be the Messiah. Satisfaction for all the people who were out to prove Him wrong.

The chaos of that day ended with me on His mind. With you on His mind. He died for you and for me. I challenge you to take some time today to truly think about what Christ went through. And, to humbly remember that you were on his mind.

Don't lose hope....Sunday is coming!