I’m a visual person and love to construct my own stories. Often, I want to be a fly against the wall to witness the birth of something big. I would rather wish to be in God’s meeting room when man’s salvation was planned.  

It was God’s overflowing love for mankind who set everything in motion. God’s heart has moaned every time another person missed the gates of heaven. The love of God for hopeless mankind took him to the drawing board.   

God probably had quite a few solutions in mind. But deep within Him, He knew that there was only one plan. However, the plan was so costly that He probably tested one more idea, but alas, Jesus was the only candidate who qualified.   

Do you remember how the guys in the Old Testament got rid of their sins? They had to slaughter an animal. The most perfect animal’s blood had to flow as payment for their sins. Sin or disobedience to God has one penalty: death.   

Actually, man ought to pay for his sins with his own life, but by grace, he is permitted to kill something else as payment for his sins. But once a man has slaughtered his animal and on his way home, he stomps his toe, he just has to turn around and sacrifice something again.  

That is why God is back to the drawing board. And now it sounds like Jesus’ rescue plan did not come to the table until later, but it is not true. Jesus’ coming to earth was already on the cards before the creation of the earth.  

Jesus was the best, actually, the only Candidate to forever do away with the sacrifices for man’s sin. Jesus was the perfect Lamb because He was without sin.   

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 

For all people on earth, those who were, those who are, and those who are still coming, it now is possible to reach God. Jesus’ blood made this possible. He is the way and the truth, and only by believing in Him can we reach God.   

Jesus had no sin. He did nothing wrong. He was the Son of God, and therefore His death on the cross was enough to pay for our sins so that we do not have to pay for it.   

Like a lamb slaughtered to bleed on the sacrificial table, Jesus’ blood flowed on a wooden cross as a final payment. But Jesus did not stay there in Hades. The Spirit took Him out of there so that He may live forever.   

Through Jesus’ resurrection, God finally dealt with death. If we now confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive all our sins. Yes, all our sins. Therefore, we will always be able to live with Him. 

Scripture
1 Peter 3:13-18 

Reflection
Do you realise what Jesus has done for you?
Does it affect your way of life?
Do others experience this? 

Prayer
Jesus, I am deeply grateful that You were willing to undertake this huge task. Without it I would have been lost for sure. Amen.