So they took Jesus, 17 and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them … 28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (Jn 19:17-30 – ESV)
Let’s talk about why the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is so important to you today.
You were a sinner that was eternally separated from God
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Rom 3:23 – ESV)
but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. (Isa 59:2 – ESV)
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 6:23 – ESV)
The crucifixion was where punishment for your sin was paid
The Old Testament sacrificial system shows us the principle for the transference of sin.
20 “When he finishes atoning for the Holy Place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall offer the live goat. 21 Then Aaron shall lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the wrongdoings of the sons of Israel and all their unlawful acts regarding all their sins; and he shall place them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who stands ready. 22 Then the goat shall carry on itself all their wrongdoings to an isolated territory; he shall release the goat in the wilderness. (Lev 16:20-22 – NASB)
Much more perfectly and permanently, your sin was transferred to Jesus.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor 5:21 – ESV)
Your sin was paid for by Jesus.
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. (Col 2:13-14)
Jesus became your substitute, and your sin was transferred onto Him. In that way He paid for your sin so you could be saved!
It was needed because you could not pay for your sin yourself
God needed to find a way to take away your sin because there was nothing you could do to pay for it yourself.
15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. (Gal 2:15-16 – ESV)
No amount of work or effort could earn your salvation. No amount of effort could pay for the wrong that you’ve done.
I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing. (Gal 2:21)
It is impossible for you to be saved unless God intervenes.
25 When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, “Then who can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Mt 19:25-26 – ESV)
Through the crucifixion, God bought you for Himself
We’ve covered several times the Deity of Jesus Christ so there is no reason to dive into it again other than to say that Jesus is God, and He is the One who bought you for God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit):
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace (Eph 1:7 – ESV)
18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Pet 1:18-19 – ESV)
For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Cor 6:20- ESV)
8 When He took the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slaughtered, and You redeemed people for God by Your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation. (Rev 5:8-9 – ESV)
Through the crucifixion, God paved the way for you to become His child
By purchasing, redeeming, and ransoming you, He paved the way for you to become His child:
But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God. (Jn 1:12-13)
Take time out to learn these truths about Jesus’ sacrifice and how they paved the way to your salvation. Teach the Gospel to others. Be prepared to defend your faith.
If you believe Jesus Christ is your Lord, Savior, and God … praise and thank Him now. Rejoice and celebrate in Christ your Savior because you are His child and are no longer separated from God. You are His … forever.
Look at how great a love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children. And we are! (1 Jn 3:1)
for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (Gal 3:26)
Think about it
Please make sure you are truly saved. That you believe in Jesus and His sacrifice for you ONLY for salvation and the forgiveness of your sins.
Many people attend church and think they are true believers but they are relying on themselves … their good works, kindness, attitude … to save them and not Jesus.
Look at what Jesus said:
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’ 23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’” (Mt 7:21-23)
Jesus is very clear that MANY people will stand before Him in Heaven and think they are entitled entry in based on their own efforts and not on Him. Those people are then sent away and condemned. Please understand that when Jesus says ‘many’ here, He is saying a very large number of people.
Trust in Christ’s sacrifice for you alone to save you. Confess right now, believing in your heart, that you are a sinner that needs Him to save you. Tell Him that you know there is nothing you can do to make up for the wrong you’ve done against Him. Believe and tell Him that there is no way you can put Him in debt to you to force Him to let you into Heaven because you’ve done so many good things. God does not owe ANYBODY Heaven for any effort on their own. Ask Jesus to have mercy on you and save you. Pray, cry out to Him like your life depends on it … because your eternal one does.
