“Ms! Why would they do something
so mean?”
“Teacher? Why did Jesus have the
holes in His hands and feet?”
“Why didn’t the Pharisees like
Jesus?”
“I see crosses at my church all
the time!”
As I described to my little
Kindergartners the crown of thorns that Jesus wore, and the cross that He was
nailed to, I could see the shock and sadness on their faces. I could also see
the surprise and smiles when I told them how Jesus rose from the dead on the
third day. A girl turned to the boy next to her and said, “See? I told you
Jesus was alive!”
Now I’m pretty sure I reacted
about the same way when I first heard that story. But after growing up hearing
the same story time and time again, I seem to have forgotten what Jesus really
did for us.
After Adam and Eve had sinned and
had been taken out of the Garden of Eden, there was no hope for the human race.
Jesus then stepped up and volunteered to die in our place. I have been reading
a wonderful book called The Story of Redemption
by Ellen G. White and it explains everything that was going on in Heaven at
the time that Jesus volunteered to pay the ultimate price. Angels offered their
lives so that Jesus would not have to bear the consequences. But the life of an
angel could not pay the debt.
“Jesus told them that He would stand between the wrath of His Father
and guilty man, that He would bear iniquity and scorn, and but few would
receive Him as the Son of God. Nearly all would hate and reject Him. He would
leave all His glory in heaven, appear upon earth as a man, humble himself as a
man, become acquainted by His own experience with the various temptations with
which man would be beset…”
-The Story of Redemption
I know Jesus died on the cross for
us so we can be forgiven of our sins, but sometimes I seem to forget what a
sacrifice it was. Jesus gave up all the glory and power He had in heaven, to
come down to our sinful and sad little Earth. He became our mediator and took
the punishment that was meant for us.
Jesus was also put to death the
way criminals were at that time: He was nailed to two rough pieces of wood. He
was mocked, accused, and scorned. Jesus could have backed out at any time. He
had plenty of angels waiting to come and take Him away if need be. But, He went
through it all. And because of His unbelievable sacrifice, I am able to have
eternal life. What an amazing God we serve! I am not very good at expressing
myself in words, but I hope you are able to get something out of this. J
Also, I would strongly recommend
reading The Story of Redemption!
