The great willingness of Jesus…

For those who are unfamiliar with the story, I suppose that Jesus Christ might look like a victim in a heinous crime. Jealous religious leaders plot his death. He is lied about. A mob cries for his crucifixion. Political leaders who are more concerned about politics than leadership succumb to the demands of the crowd. And he is crucified.

 But Jesus makes it clear, while he prays in the garden of Gethsemane that He is no victim (Matt. 26:39).  He requests of His Father to not go through the crucifixion, and then because His Father’s will is more important than His upcoming pain He willingly submits.

Travel back with me to the foot of the cross. Author Max Lucado writes so lucidly of that moment in world history:

When human hands fastened the divine hands to a cross with spikes, it wasn’t the soldiers that held the hands of Jesus steady. Those same hands that formed oceans and built mountains. Those same hands that designed the universe. Those same hands that blueprinted one incredible plan for you and me.

Take a stroll out to the hill. Out to Calvary. Out to the cross where with holy blood, the hand that placed you on the planet wrote the promise. ‘God would give up his only Son before He’d give up on you.’

 Ponder that thought: The God of heaven was so interested in you and me that He gave His only Son. Before you and I were ever born, He ordained Him to pay the penalty of our sin by dying on the cross. Everything you’ve done that was wrong was paid for in one act: the crucifixion of Jesus. That forgiveness is granted to those who believe in Him. Make no mistake about it: Jesus Christ was no victim. He died willingly on your behalf and mine. Have you invited Him, who gave His life so willingly to be your Savior? Why not consider doing it today?