Savior Divine

I've never killed anyone.  But I've thought murderous thoughts, and that's enough.

I've never committed grand theft auto or robbed a bank.  But I took a pen that wasn't mine to take, and I've wanted what other people have, and that's enough.

In my lifetime I've looked lustfully at men, and that's enough.

Even if I were perfect- which I'm not - I am a human being, a descendant of two human beings who disobeyed God and fell from grace.  I'm a daughter of Eve, and that's enough.

It's enough to condemn me.  It's enough to separate me from God in His glory forever.  He cannot bear to see sin, and I, being sinful, couldn't stand before Him.  Being a "good person" isn't good enough.

But He loves me!  He made a way to forgive my sin so that I could be in His presence!

My Jesus gave up his home in heaven and took on flesh to become human like me.  He was born to a Jewish virgin who, while not knowing how God would make these things happen, trusted Him and obeyed.  "I am the Lord's servant," she told the messenger angel. "May it be with me as you say." (Luke 1:38)

He was human like me.  The Son of God came to save me from myself and my sin.

They beat Him.  Mercilessly.  They didn't just nail Him to the cross like you see in paintings.  They flogged Him and kicked Him and punched Him until He was an unrecognizable mess of bloody, torn flesh.  (Matthew 27:30, Mark 15:19)
And then they pounded those spikes into His hands and feet, to pin Him to that crossbeam.

But that wasn't the worst part.


When His human body breathed it's last, He had taken the sin of all mankind on His shoulders.  I believe the grief and loss was the worst pain.  His Father turned away from Him in that hour as He defeated sin. I've had my heart broken before, and the pain was devastating.  I felt like I couldn't breathe, it hurt so badly.  So small my hurts have been, compared to His suffering!

Today I remember His sacrifice to be my Savior.  He loves me!  He loves you!  No words in the world could ever convey how much!

But the story doesn't stop there!  He didn't stay dead!
It's Friday now, but Sunday is coming...