The pinnacle of our faith, that which leaves one’s mouth hanging open, which is actually far too great for our minds to comprehend, is that Jesus, the Son of God, died in our place. 

24He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. 

He did not, as in the previous dispensation, have an animal slaughtered, so that the animal’s blood paid for the debt of the sin of mankind. No, Jesus took our sins upon Himself. For that, His blood flowed on the cross until there was no life left in His body. 

The Amplified Bible puts it like this: He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross … 

Can you see the picture of Jesus bearing the weight of our sins? Bearing the heavy load of punishment for everyone’s sins? You may think that Jesus has now become a sinner, but that’s not true. Jesus was never sinful. Jesus came to take our place and to bear the punishment in our place. 

Yes, you and I should actually be paying with our blood and with our lives as punishment for our sins. Yet Jesus comes filled with love, and He pushes all of us out of the line where we wait to pay for our sin, to die, where our blood must flow, and our lives with it. This is where Jesus comes to take our place. 

We receive what we don’t deserve. Because God and Jesus love humanity.  

I don’t think we realise exactly what an enormous sacrifice Jesus had to make. Jesus is the Son of God. God expected Jesus to come down from the throne beside Him and humble Himself to become human. 

Jesus did not hesitate for even one moment and accepted the assignment to become human. Jesus knew exactly what road He would have to walk. He knew what would happen along the way, and He knew where it would end. 

Remember: although Jesus was 100% God, He was also 100% human. Then you understand why He sweated blood and at one stage on the cross asked that the cup should pass Him by instead. 

Fortunately, Jesus gave His all and allowed Himself to be crucified instead of choosing an easier way out. 

I am so grateful that God raised Jesus from the grave on Sunday. Then it was done. God’s loving plan to save humans from eternal destruction was successfully completed by Jesus. 

It is the greatest event in the life of humanity. Never again will we have to die, shed our blood, or pay the penalty for our sins. Jesus stood in line and paid all our debts! Thank God! 

Scripture
1 Peter 2:22-25 

Reflection
Can you see Jesus standing in line in your place?
How does that make you feel?
Do you live it? 

Prayer
Jesus, how can I thank You for standing in line in my place to pay for my sins? You died in my place as punishment for my sin. May my life bear witness through gratitude only. Amen.