Yesterday was Good Friday, a day to remember Jesus’ death on the cross. I personally needed this reminder. As I lay in bed this morning, I thought about the significance of His death…

Imagine you were a criminal, a murderer; and you were tried, pronounced guilty, and sentenced to death. Now, imagine that a man you never met was in the courtroom when you were convicted. While you were in prison awaiting your execution, this man told the judge He would take your place and die for your crimes. And the judge allowed it! Although you didn’t personally know this man, He died for you. Then, someone came to your prison cell and told you what this man did for you. The only thing you needed to do before leaving the prison was to agree to accept this man’s death in exchange for your own. Then you would be free and, from that point on, viewed as innocent in the eyes of the judge.

Would you do it?

In essence, this is what Jesus did for you, and all humanity, on the cross. You and I are the criminal, Jesus is the man who died in our place, and God the Father is the just judge who allowed this substitution. Jesus didn’t die in an electric chair or by lethal injection. He was beaten and whipped, his beard was pulled out, he was spat upon, and cussed at. In this injured, weakened state, He was commanded to carry the cross He would die on. He didn’t have to agree to take our place and He could have changed His mind at any point along the way, but He didn’t. He died for our crimes against God, and God allowed it! The news gets better. Unlike the first man I mentioned, Jesus didn’t stay dead. Jesus was in a borrowed grave for three days and on the third day, God raised Him from the dead!

This Bible (2013) tells us how to accept this exchange,

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9-10

Holy Bible, New Living Translation. (2013). Tyndale House Publishers.
https://www.tyndale.com/ nlt/

I would like to say more about this, but I will never be able to effectively express in one blog post,what Jesus did for us. If you want to know more, I encourage you to read the Book of John. You can find it in the Bible in the New Testament.

Many Blessings for a beautiful Resurrection Day!

Mechelle