Simply His

Worth Dying For

Jessica Sunday

If you are on my blog right now, you did not come across it by accident. You are here because of a divine appointment by God. The One who loves you so much with an indescribable love that no man can comprehend. I am not sure what you are struggling with or if you are struggling at all. You may be at a mountain top in your life right now, but there may be someone who is in the valley - someone who is struggling. Wherever you are right now, if I can encourage you with one thing, let it be the message that you were worth dying for!

The One who people so quickly mock, take His holy name in vain, the One who is no longer allowed in schools or quite practically the White House, died for you. Jesus willingly died for you. He did not argue with the officials of that day. (I mean, He did not even have to argue, He could have just left them). He did not. He stayed and was beaten for both you and me. It went beyond that grueling beating  though.  He then carried His cross to a place called Calvary to be crucified - to take on the sins of the world. He was spat upon, ridiculed, scourged, mocked, and "worshiped." They beat a crown of thorns into His skull and gambled for His clothes. He hung naked upon that beautiful, terrible cross.

The cross was beautiful because it now symbolized the sacrifice that was enough for Jesus - His son. It was also beautiful because He was the only One who could be the atonement for our sins. We could do nothing. Not even the good works we do can take us even so close as the pearly gates when we pass on. He had to do it all, and He did. Jesus paid it all! The cross was terrible. It was terrible because it symbolized the cruelest death sentence of that day. Thousands were put to death by being crucified in front of people scoffing at  them. Jesus was the only One who could turn this terrible cross into something beautiful because of the sacrifice that was made on that day. Jesus died a horrific death for you and for me. The Bible tells us that He no longer looked like a man. He was unrecognizable.

You were worth dying for. Every blood-stained drop from the Savior was worth it to gain a relationship with you, but you must accept His sacrifice. So, what can we take away from the best love story ever demonstrated? Here are a few things that are important to remember that we often forget when reading the crucifixion passage.

1.  He was born to die. Have we forgotten that God is omniscient?  That term means that He knows everything! Can you imagine knowing you were born to die?  Of course, we know we are going to die someday, but to know you were born to die for a specific purpose? That is something that is hard to comprehend. I praise God that in spite of knowing His Son Jesus was born to die, that Jesus still came to take our place on the cross. The place we could never go. 
2.  He is all powerful, yet bore our sins.Do you remember the old hymn that says Jesus could have called ten thousand angels? My friend,as precious as that song is, Jesus did not have to call one angel! He could have freed Himself, but He chose to bear this suffering for us. The Bible says in John 15:16, "Ye have not chosen  me, but I have chosen you, ..."  He is all powerful! He chose us and bore our sins for us! What an amazing love! 
3. He died not only for the ones who loved Him but also for His enemies. In Luke 23:34 the Bible says, "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots." Although the soldiers continued to scoff at Him and gamble for His clothes, Jesus was concerned about their spiritual needs. There is nothing you can do that can separate you from the love of God. He is always ready to save you! 
4. He thought about others while on the cross. There were two thieves dying on each side of Him. One of them understood salvation and asked Jesus to remember him. Jesus told the man that he would be with Him in paradise today. Even on the cross, Jesus was concerned about the lost. 
5. He felt forsaken by His Father. In Matthew's account of the crucifixion, the Bible tells us in chapter 27 verse 46 that Jesus cried out with a loud voice saying, "... My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Even Jesus felt forsaken by His Father going through this. Could you imagine hearing your son say this to you? This is when the sky became dark, and Jesus was taking on all the sins of the world. His Father could not look on the sin. 
6. He had you in mind. There is no doubt that God had YOU in mind when He was dying for you! He was scourged, crucified, and mocked for you so that you might accept His free gift of salvation. He wants more than anything for you to have a genuine relationship with you. He wants you in eternity with Him! He did not go through all of this for you for nothing! He desires you! 

YOU WERE WORTH DYING FOR!