Crucifixion was the most terrible of all deaths, an affliction
so terrible that men would commit suicide rather than experience
the awful pain and humiliation.
The victim's arms were stretched upon the cross, the hands nailed
and then the feet nailed together below. The cross was then hoisted
up and dropped into a hole, causing unspeakable suffering. Hours
of torture then ensued, during which the victim would be required
to push his body upward, using his impaled feet, in order to prevent
suffocation due to the intense pressure on the rib cage and lungs
from the weight of the body. Meanwhile, the blood of the victim
was slowing poured out on the ground, and the life slipped away.
It was the most hideous means of execution. No wonder it was said,
"Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree."
But for Jesus, there was more. During those hours, He not only
suffered tremendous physical agony, but also a horrible spiritual
darkness. At one point He cried, "My God, My God, why have
you forsaken Me?" The sins of the whole human race were placed
upon Him at that time, and He suffered the horrible agony of separation
from His Father. He became sin for us, that we might be made the
righteousness of God in Him.
He took the punishment that we deserved. At the moment that He
died, the Bible tells us that "the veil of the temple was
torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth quaked and the rocks
were split." I tell you, at that moment, everything that
hindered us from a perfect relationship with God the Father was
removed.
We call it "Good" Friday. It was good for us, but it
was horrible for Him. He did it, the Bible says, "for the
joy that was set before Him." The joy for Jesus is seeing
us forgiven, healed and restored to our heavenly Father. Every
one of us have sinned, and experienced separation from God because
of our sinful nature. But because of Jesus' sacrifice, we can
experience a release from our old nature. The way has been made
for us to have a brand new life, free from the bondage of sin.
Perhaps you have been experiencing separation from Father God.
You have been living far away from Him, wallowing the cesspool
of this present world. There are things in your life from which
you can't seem to get free.
You can have peace. I want you to know today, that there is cleansing
through the precious blood of Christ. If you confess your sin,
He is faithful and just to forgive you of everything and purify
you from all that is wrong in your life.
Any religion can give a philosophy, values, and a belief system,
but only Jesus can give salvation. Jesus died for our sins, and
He rose again from the dead to give us new life. Turn away from
sin and believe the Good News of the cross. Receive His forgiveness
and the joy of a brand new life.