After the CrossNäide

Have you ever been blamed and faced the consequences for something you didn’t do? Most of us know what it’s like to face the fallout from things we didn’t deserve. It doesn’t feel good. It’s flat-out unfair.

Now, with most things, the unjust punishments we might face aren’t big. But Jesus was tortured, spat upon, mocked, and killed for a crime He didn’t commit—and He willingly chose to take it upon Himself. Sure, the Jewish leaders brought Him to Pilate, and Pilate pronounced Him guilty, but Jesus went willingly to the Cross. It may have looked like nails were holding Him in place, but it was really His Love for the world.

Seven hundred years before Jesus walked the Earth, the prophet Isaiah wrote about the Crucifixion of Jesus—in vivid detail. And he placed the blame squarely where it lies. Jesus’ Hands and Feet were pierced with nails “for our transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5). He died “for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5). Our iniquities = our sin.

We couldn’t atone for it. Anything we attempted was temporary. The cost was too big and it required a big action. We deserved it, not Jesus. But Jesus loves us so much that He took our place. What’s more, in exchange for the punishment we earned, Jesus gave us Peace and Healing, Salvation, and Friendship with God that will last forever. He swapped the death that was ours with rights for the Abundant Life that belongs to God’s kids. Oh, the Great, unfair Love of Jesus!