In the history of the world, one of the most significant events is the death of Jesus. For many, it was a just a symbol of shame and failure; but for many others, it became a life defining message. It says in the Bible in Romans 5:8: But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1. Demonstration of God’s Love-Christ died for us
The death of Jesus demonstrates God’s love toward us (Rom. 5:8). God does not merely speak of His great love toward us, nor just promises His presence… He DEMONSTRATED His great love toward US-while yet sinners… and unsaved! Christ died for US.
2. Primary Importance-Christ died for our sins
Many things are written in the Bible for those who believe in the Lord Jesus; and one of them is of PRIMARY importance-the death of Jesus. Paul says in 1 Cor. 15:3, For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures…
If you are looking for salvation, look at Jesus who died-this is the first step to find salvation: Jesus died for OUR sins.
3. Penalty paid-Jesus bore our sins and died
The death of Jesus is significant because, there was no other way for a just God to take away the sins of the human race, which came through the seed of Adam-who sinned. Jesus, the Lamb of God, died to take away the sins of the whole world. There was a price to be paid for sinners like you and me, and Jesus paid it all. 1 Peter 2:8 says that we can now live for righteousness, having died to sins… because Jesus bore OUR sins on that tree {cross}.
4. Jesus died to restore the way to God
In the Old Covenant, under Law, the people sacrificed animals, whose blood was shed to cover the sins for just some period of time; because the sacrifice was made by the high priest every year, as a remembrance and as a way to escape God’s wrath, while nearing His Presence. It was an imagery of the perfect Lamb who would come to take away the sins of the whole world-a Lamb so perfect, who died ONCE and for ALL. Jesus’ death has not just done away with animal sacrifices, but also given us now the only way to approach God (1 Pet. 3:18).
5. Jesus died as a ransom for all
Paul uses this expression in 1 Tim. 2:6 “…who gave Himself a ransom for all…” In a sense, we were all kidnapped by the devil and our deliverance was dependent on a ransom. If all the gold and silver in the world could deliver us, God would have done that too! But the ransom price was the death of Jesus… and Jesus willingly died for all! The ransom paid, we are all now delivered from the clutches of the devil… no more under the bondage of sin. The death of Jesus has set us free, indeed given us life, to live for righteousness.
6. Redeemed by the blood of Jesus
In olden times, there used to a market-for slaves. And much like we purchase some fruit or vegetable, people of those times purchased slaves. The slaves are bonded laborers without wages, for their entire life; unless some good master redeems them and sets them free! Imagine now the slavery to sin; and the redeeming price is the blood of Jesus (and not silver and gold). The price is paid to set us fully free! Read 1 Peter 1:18-19. {My Lord, what LOVE is this that pays so dearly; that I the guilty one may go free.}
7. Jesus died-an atonement for our sins
Not only is our past sins forgiven, but an atonement is provided even for the present. Remember the sacrificial goat, and the scapegoat in the Old Covenant? Restoration and reconciliation between God and man needed atonement for sins; where the sacrificial goat is killed and the scapegoat is set free (Lev. 16: 8-10). Jesus made Himself the sacrificial goat, to provide atonement for our sins, that we may escape death.
1 John 4:10 says: In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Now we have access, by the blood of Jesus, to enter into the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies) where only the high priest used to enter, once a year (in the Old Covenant). Come boldly to the throne of grace, because of the blood of Jesus.
8. Jesus died-to justify us
Romans 5:9 says: Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
This means so much to us! Not only are we forgiven, but are now DECLARED RIGHTEOUS. If a man spends some time in prison, and even if a jury finds that he is innocent and sets him free, that man may still be labeled an ex-convict and shunned by society. But we have much more here… by the blood of Jesus-the righteousness of Jesus is clothed upon us-imputed to us. What a wonderful privilege for us-sinners to saints is our new song today!
9. Jesus died saying “It is finished”
1 Cor. 6:11 says it all: But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
The complete work of salvation is extended as a gift to us. If you had never known Jesus before, nor the significance of His death, this ‘Good Friday’ is a good day to start knowing Him! Call upon the name of Jesus and you will be saved! Salvation is not earned; it is a free gift of God. Whatever your past, whatever your sins, YOU can be WASHED by the blood of Jesus; YOU will be SANCTIFIED (made holy) in His name; and you will be JUSTIFIED (declared righteous) in His name.
Jesus is our wisdom from God (1 Cor. 1:30, 31). Salvation cannot be understood through intellect…Salvation cannot be ignored due to symbolism. Because for Jews, the cross was a symbol of shame, and hence they found the death of Jesus on the cross abhorrent, rather than knowing its absolving power for them. For some Greek philosophers, the death on the cross looked foolish. But YOU… know Jesus and the simplicity of salvation by the cross of Jesus. Though it is simple, though it is free, you will understand that salvation is priceless… being washed, sanctified, justified and set free to live for righteousness… O what a freedom for those who would only believe!
“He who glories, let Him glory in the LORD.” Amen.
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