Three Years in 30 Days: Jesus' Life and MissionSample

Jesus’ death

“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.” (Matthew 27:50 ESV)

By dying on the cross, Jesus freed us from the burden of sin and death. In Genesis 3, we read how a barrier arose between God and man. Jesus took upon Himself God's righteous judgment of sin. A judgment that humans could not bear. If Jesus had “only” lived as a good man on earth, He would have remained nothing more than a powerful example for us. Then we would have been left with our guilt before God. God's judgment was that humans could no longer live in His presence. Jesus allowed Himself to be “removed from God's presence” in our place. He gave His life as a sacrifice for everyone who believes in Him. Death did not happen to Jesus as it happens to us humans. Jesus voluntarily and consciously gave up His life. In doing so, He took upon Himself God's judgment on the sin in our lives in our place.

As humans, we are hardly able to truly understand the depth of this event. Jesus made an open and intimate relationship with God possible again.

Read Matthew 27:33-56 slowly and carefully.

• What does Jesus' death mean to you?
• What does this mean for the way you live your life?