Many of us might die for family that we love, maybe for our closest friends. The most courageous of us might die for an innocent person being unjustly abused.
But who would take the place of the most wretched and wicked? Who would switch places with the murderer on death row? Who would tell the judge that they would serve the sentence of the drug pusher? Who would take a beating for the vile and perverse among us?
Who sacrifices their life for the guilty? It is an absurd thought. The guilty deserve what they get, that is justice and it is right. It is not right for the innocent to stand in the place of judgement for the guilty.
But as unimaginable as that might be, there was One willing to stand in the place of all of mankind’s worst offenders, and by worst I mean all of us who have fallen short of the perfect glory of God. There was only One, ever, and it was Jesus.
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:5-6
But why would He do it? Love.
God’s love is for us despite our sin and rebellion against Him. His love endures despite even our rejection and hate of Him. And it is in this love for you specifically, that Jesus went to that cross to take the punishment for what you and I have done against Him. You are loved enough to die for.
Do you believe God could love you so much that He died for you?