Get ready to start a journey…a journey through the pages of the Bible and the pages of your life.
The Almighty took on flesh and made His dwelling among us. His existence was for this painful purpose. Sin had separated man from God. Death was sin’s penalty. Jesus, fully God and fully man, took on death for us. The Sinless One died for sinful man. The penalty of sin was paid for in full at the cross. He sacrificed Himself for you.
What an amazing scenario! The people chose to have a dangerous man back on the streets rather than have Jesus live. The innocent would die. The guilty went free. The same applies today. The spotless Lamb of God bore our sin in His body on the cross. He died in our place so we could be free forever.
Jesus did not come to perform. He did not come to show us another sign. His mission was clear. He came to die so we could live. He purchased life for us by His death on the cross. Signs will draw a crowd; the cross drew scorn. Signs will fade away; the cross purchased life eternal. Jesus let His actions speak for Him. He came to give His life as a ransom for many.
Jesus did not respond because He was not a victim to a trial; He was a servant following the Father’s plan. The Sinless One gave no defense of His innocence. The time had come for the cross. Jesus was about His Father’s business.
For some reason, Judas couldn’t grasp forgiveness. The shame drove him deeper into his guilt instead of to the forgiving Lord. He took matters into his own hands and ended his life. Judas not only betrayed Jesus, but he also ran from the One who could forgive him, even after the kiss.
All of us can relate to Peter, can’t we? We have remained silent as others use Jesus’ name as slang. We have remained silent as His claims have been laughed at. We have even joined in the laughter as His person is satirized. We have ignored His Word by open rebellion. We have followed Peter in our own denials, but have we joined him in remorse and repentance?