NOVEMBER 14, 2 Corinthians 5:21

“Mom, I don’t understand my memory verse,” said Alec, one afternoon. “It’s 2 Corinthians 5:21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.’ I know it’s talking about Jesus, but what does “He was made to be sin for us” mean? Jesus was sinless, wasn’t He?”

“Yes, He was,” answered Mom, “and taking our sin away is what caused Him to suffer so much. It involved more than just the physical pain from the crucifixion. Let’s see…” She reached for a book from the bookcase. “Here,” she said, “look at this picture of a leper. It was taken by some missionaries years ago. They often saw people with this condition.”

Alec frowned as he looked at the picture. “That man sure looks awful,” he said. “He hasn’t got any fingers or toes! Just ugly little stumps!” “Yes,” Mom nodded, “and he’s blind and so thin! You’re a Christian, Alec. If you saw someone like this, what could you do for him?”

Alec thought about it. “I could give him a drink of water and some food,” he suggested.

“But he’s dying,” answered Mom. “Could you love that poor man enough to get down on your knees beside him and take him into your arms and tell him that if he will believe in Christ, he will go to heaven? What do you think?”

Alec hesitated. “I don’t know. If I forced myself, maybe I could.” “In order to help him,” continued Mom, “and if you had the power to do it, would you allow all of his sickness to flow into your body and allow all of your strength and health to flow into his body?” Alec cringed at that idea. “That’s asking too much!” he objected. “He has such a horrible disease!”

Mom nodded. “That’s what Jesus did when He was made to be sin for you and me, Alec,” she explained. “Jesus hates sin even more than you hate leprosy. He was sinless, yet He took the punishment for our sins by dying on the Cross for us.”

Alec thought it over. “I think I’m beginning to understand,” he said.

Thought: Did you ever stop to think about what Jesus did when He died for your sins?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for sending the Lord Jesus Christ to die on the Cross for my sins. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.