With the Easter season quickly approaching, I have been thinking a lot about the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. This is such an emotional season for me. Despite being a Believer almost my whole life, I still sometimes have difficulty believing that Jesus would die for me.
I’m not sure that even I would die for me.
Recently, my cousin and her husband welcomed their first baby into the world. In a Facebook picture of he and his new son, my cousin’s husband wrote “I have a whole new understanding of John 3:16. #GodisGood.” As a mother of two sons I can totally understand this sentiment.
God is good.
“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.” — Romans 5:7 NIV
I would gladly give my life for either one of my boys. No questions asked. Would I give my child’s life to save someone else’s? I can honestly say probably not. Would I give my perfect child’s life for a murderer, rapist, or just an all-around bad person? Absolutely not.
“We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags.” — Isaiah 64:6 NIV
Thankfully, God does not think as I do, and this totally blows my mind. As far as sin goes, we are the worst of the worst. No matter how good we are, we will never be good enough for God.
Thankfully, God wouldn’t settle for this. He wanted us to be able to spend eternity with him. This is why God sent Jesus to bridge that divide. He used The Cross to bridge that divide. Before Jesus was even born, both God and Jesus knew what the plan was. They knew what the outcome would be. God knowingly sent his perfect son to this fallen world to die for our sins. A sinless lamb that would take on the sins of the world. As a mother, this is something that blows me away.
I understand loving my family that much, but people I’ve never met? I can’t fathom that sort of love. I’m not sure any of us can understand that.
As we start into Holy Week, we need to remember the indescribable gift that God has given us. A perfect way to be able to reflect on this is through Max Lucado’s book, On Calvary’s Hill.
This book features 40 short devotionals that will allow you to feel and contemplate the power of the Passion. This book could be started at the beginning of Lent and do one devotion a day, or you can do as I’m doing and read the whole book in the week leading up to Easter in order to get you in the right mindset.
The Easter season is a time to reflect on the amazing sacrifice that Jesus made. His love for us was so strong that he not only gave his own life, but also triumphed over the grave three days later. In doing so, He also defeated death for us too. Through him, we too can live forever. Jesus has bridged the divide between God and men forever. His cross has freed us.
Max Lucado’s On Calvary’s Hill is available at your local Family Christian stores or at FamilyChristian.com.
This Easter, keep in mind the sacrifice that Jesus made for you, for me, and for everyone. Is is a gift that has eternal implications and something we need to not only celebrate that but also share this amazing news with everyone.
