Daily devotion – what happened at Calvary
Christ died for our sins: What does it mean that Jesus died for our sins? How does His death do anything for our sins? Many noble men and women have died horrible deaths for righteous causes through the centuries. How does the death of Jesus do anything for our sins?
At some point before Jesus died, before the veil was torn in two, before He cried out, “It is finished,” an awesome spiritual transaction took place.
God the Father laid upon God the Son all the guilt and wrath our sin deserved, and Jesus bore it in Himself perfectly, totally satisfying the wrath of God in our place.
As shocking as the physical suffering of Jesus was, this spiritual suffering – the act of being judged for sin in our place – was what Jesus really dreaded about the cross.
This was the cup – the cup of God’s righteous wrath – that He trembled at drinking (Luke 22:39-46, Psalm 75:8, Isaiah 51:17, Jeremiah 25:15).
On the cross Jesus became, as it were, an enemy of God, who was judged and forced to drink the cup of the Father’s fury so we would not have to drink that cup.
As we examine all that happened at Calvary, we are overwhelmed with the amazing love and grace of God toward us!
This Easter, let us come to the Lord with grateful hearts and with lips offering Him praise. Easter, whilst we are reminded of the brutality that occurred at Calvary, the reason for it opens the door to forgiveness and glory to all who recognise Christ’s willing sacrifice for each of us.