The death of Christ is not only the demonstration of God’s love (John 3:16), but also the supreme expression of Christ’s own love for all who receive Him as their personal savior.
It baffles us that God who is all powerful and knows everything allowed His only Son to suffer and die. Why did God not make another way to safe man from sin and the death penalty it carried? The simple answer is this: God had no other options. Think about this! God’s directive to Adam in Genesis 2:17 was clear: “but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” They disobeyed and ate the fruit of the tree and therefore God must punish them as He decreed.
If God did not carry out the death sentence on man, then God will not be Just, Holy, Faithful to His Word and cannot be trusted. If God carried out the sentence and wiped-out man, then the attributes of Mercy, Grace, Longsuffering, will never be a part of His being. Call this a catch 22. God had to do the unthinkable. The death penalty was served, but God stepped in and took the punishment on Himself.
This was the only approach that did not conflict or compromise any of all the attributes of God which are too many to list here. All God’s attributes came into perfect harmony in the redemption of man. Jesus, the Godman came to our world and was 100% man to be the perfect sacrifice and substitute for us. His suffering was not superficial. His pain was real. His death was not stage-managed. He cried to the Father to save Him from that horrible hour. But because of His love for us He remained on the cross until it was FINISHED. He paid the price in full for our redemption.
Here is how we must respond: “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” 2Cor. 5:14-15.
As you reflect throughout this Passion Week leading to the Resurrection, reach out to share with others the good news of the fact that Jesus paid in full for all their sins.
Have a blessed Easter.
