Today is Easter and one of the holiest days we as Christians celebrate. We know that Jesus was crucified for our sins and on the third day he rose from the dead to open the gates of Heaven for those who believe in him.
But what do those words really mean? My Pastor gave an excellent sermon about the reasons that Jesus died for us. I’m using just the outline written by Rev. Robert Barnes:
1. To Show He Loves Us – Dying for us and suffering as he did on the cross is the ultimate sacrifice. Add to this that Jesus is God and could have easily “turned off” his humanity so as not to feel the pain, humiliation and fear of this terrible death.
2. To Absorb the Wrath of God – When we sin against God it is a grievous act. Jesus takes the punishment that is due us upon himself.
3. To Free Us From a Bad Inheritance – There is a belief that the there are curses in families through their ancestry or something that causes us as adults to be unable to recover from childhood hurts. With Jesus’ sacrifice we are broken from these things.
4. To Show that the Worst of Evil is Meant for Good: The worst evil is sinning against God. When Jesus was killed, the worst sin took place. We must remember that this was all part of God’s plan. This can show us that nothing we do is too horrible, too awful for God to forgive. We are free through Jesus. We don’t ever have to feel afraid.
Thank you Jesus! I pray that the words of my Pastor (paraphrased by me) lead you to the loving arms of Jesus. I pray that you will open your heart to him.
