Christ is Crucified. Our Redemption is Accomplished.

Jesus is raised up on the cross. He is surrounded by a distressing and frantic scene. People pass by and yell horrible remarks at him, or they are entirely indifferent. The chief priests are sarcastic and scathing towards him. There is no anger and contempt of Jesus’ eyes – only compassion.

Our hope in sharing this week’s devotion ~ Jesus Dies on the Cross ~ is for us to spend time in prayer, reflecting the reasons why Jesus came to die on the cross. Join us as we walk through a few.

  • He Came to Glorify His Father

    There is tremendous truth packed into John 17:5. Take a moment and read through this verse. This verse shares with us that Christ prayed before facing the cross. Jesus provides us with the ultimate model of how we should glorify God in our lives. We have a beautiful example of how Christ glorifies God before facing difficulties. Christ prays, “Father, the hour has come.” He knew His work on the earth was ending, and He was face to face with the cross. Our Christ sought to glorify God through the darkest hour of His life. Are we seeking to glorify God, even while going through hard and difficult seasons?

  • He Came to Give Power to the Gospel

    Paul boldly says “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.” However, for those of us who love the cross, we love the sacrifice Christ made. To those of us who are being saved, it is the power of God. Let’s take a moment and think about being “saved.” In 1 Peter 1:3, it’s shared with us that God has “caused us to be born again to a living hope.” Our hope is ALIVE because Christ defeated death and came to LIFE so that we might LIVE. Let’s pause and thank God for allowing us to be born again! 

  • He Came to Seek and Save Sinners

    Christ made it clear that the gospel is intended for those who are lost. How beautiful is it that Christ came to seek and save those who were lost. “For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” Luke 19:10

  • He Came to Destroy the Works of the Devil and the Power of Death

    Christ was made flesh, and He could die a death that had the power to destroy the devil. By destroying the devil, He freed us from the slavery of evil. Should we fear death? Yes, in our flesh, we probably may fear death. But in our spirit and through our faith in Christ, there is no need to worry. He destroyed Satan and robbed him of the “power of death. “Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. ” Hebrews 2:14

  • He Came to Reconcile Us to God

    Christ died on the cross to reconcile man to God through the cross. Although man still rebels against God through pride, rebellion, and the same sin that has tormented humanity throughout our history, God continues to offer His mercy and grace. Christ came to kill the hostility between God and man and to reconcile us to God. “Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.” Ephesians 2:16

  • He Came to Bring Us Peace

    Many of us are not at peace with God. Often this also exposes that we are not at peace with ourselves, the lives we live, or with others. Through our Father’s death, He gave us the beautiful gift of peace with God. “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5

We are called to offer our lives daily, as the apostle Paul says in Romans 12:1, as “a living sacrifice” to God, glorifying him and serving others.

  • How will you offer your life daily as “a living sacrifice” to God?
  •  How will you seek to please God and love those around you?
  •  What will you do today to demonstrate your gratitude for Jesus’ sacrifice?

Closing Prayer: Jesus, we know that you alone made the perfect sacrifice for sin. We ask that you help us in all that we do, to make a pleasing sacrifice of gratitude to you. Amen.