The Miracle of the Cross:

What Jesus Did For Me

          I was listening (via radio) to a sermon delivered to a tribal group, with the help of an interpreter.  He shared something that really stuck out in my mind- “The miracle of the cross is that there was no miracle.”  Wow….simple, but profound.  Have you ever thought of it like that?

            Jesus raised the dead to life, healed the lame, blind and deaf, and turned water into wine.  He could have called a host of angels to bring Him down from the cross.  He could have never allowed himself to be captured.  He could have never come in the first place.  He could have condemned us all to hell (what we deserve).  He could have, but He didn’t.

            Have you ever thought about how much physical pain and emotional torment Jesus went through for you, and for me?  Having to be separated temporarily from God, because He was so laden with my sin.  The beatings.  Being spit on in the face.  Having a crown of thorns smashed on His head.  When He was so weak He could probably barely move, He was forced to carry the heavy cross through the town (till all physical energy gave out), with people jeering at Him, and probably throwing things.  Then, having nails pounded into His hands and feet.  Can you imagine having all your body weight held by the nails in your hands and feet?  The severe pain?  Because of my sin.  Because of yours.

            Have you thought about it lately?  Would you go through all of that for someone who hated you?  Not your best friend- someone who hated you.  Someone who wanted to see you dead.  And with your dying breath, would you say, “Father, forgive them”?  He was forgiving you and me, as much as He was forgiving those there at the cross.  It was our sin that put Him there.  Jesus didn’t do it for the perfect man.  He did it for me- someone who, before redemption, was too sinful to touch God.  I John 4:10 says, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”  This was love in the most tangible way.

He did it for me.  By choice.  He didn’t have to, but He did…because He loved me, and because He loved you.  He’s given us a free gift- the gift of eternal life spent with Him.  Paid in full, sealed with His blood.  It’s the costliest, most beautiful gift we could ever receive.  We’ll never be able to pay for it…it’s a free gift.  Ephesians 2:8-9 states, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”  

Most of you reading this have already accepted Jesus’ gift.  But maybe you haven’t.  It’s so simple, a free gift.  But it’ll change your life forever.  Once you accept it, you’ll never be the same.  The gift is already paid in full.    He loves you more than anyone else ever will.  Not many would go through the pain Jesus did, for someone who hates them.  The choice is up to you- will you take it or leave it?

Maybe you’re a Believer who’s forgotten what Jesus went through for you.  The excitement of being a “newborn” Christian has worn off.  You’re busy with your life, and it’s been a long time since you’ve given the cross much thought.  Has “the cross” become a light thing to you?  It’s time to look back, to remember.  The most wonderful part of the story is Sunday morning, when Jesus rose again.  It was because of this final factor that He was capable of giving us eternal life.  But may we never forget what He suffered to get there.  May we never set it aside as “small”.  May we never assume it was “due” us. 

We have the knowledge….now we must share it!  The price was too high for us to hide this gift.  I John 2:2 says, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”  We have to spread the Good News, and “tell the world that Jesus loves them.”

Have you thought about the cross lately?  Have you made Jesus your King?  Have you shared it with others?  Never get so busy you forget what He’s done for you.  Keep pressing onward in Jesus’ Name!