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Easter is a perfect time to once again pause and remember the immeasurable love of God that allowed His Son Jesus to be crucified for our sake.
Because the cross is where Jesus died to take the punishment for all of humanity for our sins.
“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 Saviour] shall not perish, but have eternal life”. (John 3:16 AMP)
As Isaiah 53:5-6 state: “But 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. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all”.
In the Bible sin (iniquity) is described in the Bible as transgression of the law of God (1 John 3:4) and rebellion against God (Deuteronomy 9:7; Joshua 1:18).
Augustine of Hippo 354–430) defined the word sin as meaning: “a word, deed, or desire in opposition to the eternal law of God”.
Jesus, Who was completely without sin, bore our sins – our evil thoughts, words and actions – upon the cross that we might be able to have a right relationship with God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
God has promised us that in a right relationship with Him He will: “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow My decrees and be careful to obey My regulations”. (Ezekiel 36:26-27 NLT)
“They will be My people, and I will be their God. And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship Me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship Me, and they will never leave Me”. (Jeremiah 32:38-40 NLT)
satan, (the devil), thought that he had won by having Jesus killed. But satan was completely wrong. Instead of destroying Jesus satan instead, unwittingly, gave Jesus the victory over sin, death, and the eternal consequences of our sins.
That by Jesus death and resurrection we are not only forgiven if we accept Jesus as our Saviour, but we might also live lives on earth as God desires if we allow Jesus to be our Lord and the Master of our lives.
As Christians, (ie: people who have accepted Jesus as their Saviour), once we confess our personal sins to God and ask forgiveness for them, we are restored to perfect fellowship and communion with Him.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
And that when we die, we will live with God forever:
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4 NIV)
At Easter the partial lyrics of the following song, “Lead Me To The Cross”, and the old hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross”, have great depth of meaning:
“Lead Me To The Cross” – Brooke Fraser (Youtube link opens in a new browser tab)
“Saviour I come
Quiet my soul, remember
Redemption’s hill
Where Your blood was spilled
For my ransom
Everything I once held dear
I count it all as lost
Lead me to the cross
Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself
I belong to You
Oh, lead me, lead me to the cross
You were as I
Tempted and trialled
Human
The Word became flesh
Bore my sin and death
Now you’re risen ……”
“The Old Rugged Cross” – George Bennard (Youtube link opens in a new browser tab)
“On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.
2 O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary. [Refrain]
3 In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me. [Refrain]”
My profound hope is that this Easter we will all be led to the cross.
And may we all, at the cross, rise as genuine followers of Jesus and live in His victorious resurrection power.
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