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THE DEATH OF THE CROSS
LORD’S DAY, MAY 7
Philippians 2:8

Psalm 22

 

“…even the death of the cross.”

 

THE DEATH OF THE CROSS
 
When we think of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, we must remember that it was not just any death, but the most painful and humiliating death possible: being crucified as a criminal on the cross.
 
Jesus was betrayed through a kiss from his very own disciple, Judas Iscariot. He had to stand trial before the corrupt priests and heathen Roman authorities. The very people whom He came to save cried “crucify him, crucify him.” Wicked soldiers mocked Him, spat on Him, and scourged Him. They pressed a crown of thorns upon His head. Sinful hands nailed His hands and feet upon wooden beams, and then gambled to take His garments at the foot of the cross as His blood flowed freely around them. As He hung on the cross, His entire weight was borne by the nails driven into His bones. Every breath He drew was a deliberate effort, pushing off His feet and pulling on His palms to fill His lungs with air.
 
Yet the physical pain and the humiliation suffered on the cross, was nothing compared to the anguish He faced when the weight of sin was put upon Him, and God the Father turned His back upon His Son, whereby He cried: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt 27:46). There on the cross, 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains: “he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
 
Why did He do that? It was because of love. This was the only way, in which God could redeem man. We are all sinners who have broken God’s law, and we rightfully deserve death. We are born in sin, live in sin, and we should die in our sins. We should have been the ones hanging on the cross. There is nothing that we can do to save ourselves. That is why Jesus came, to die in our place, to pay the penalty of our sins, and give us life! O what wonderful love, what great humility!
 
THOUGHT: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:8)
PRAYER: O Father, may I never forget the great sacrifice of Christ in dying for my sins.

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