If desperate situations call for extreme measures, then extreme measures are a sign that we are in a desperate situation. If a police car flashed its lights behind me, my wife might say in her disapproving voice, “What did you do?” If my car were surrounded by police and a TV news helicopter hovered overhead, my wife’s tone would likely become more accusatory, “What did you do?” If a jet fighter joined the chase, dropping bombs in the direction of our car, my wife might scream like the lead female actor in an action movie, “What did you do?!”
Consider what God did to save us. He didn’t hand us a brochure, as if our problem were merely ignorance. He didn’t hold an intervention, as if our problem were merely stubbornness. He answered our need with the cross, which can only mean that we have messed up big-time. If the cross is necessary to save us, then What did we do?
The cross is a dagger through the happy talk of “You’re okay, I’m okay” and if we just try harder, we can change the world. The cross informs us that things have gone horribly wrong, and they won’t be right unless somebody dies.
That somebody is Jesus. He paid our penalty, absorbing the Father’s wrath so that we might live (Galatians 2:20). That somebody is us. Jesus died instead of us, but not without us.
Karl Barth explains: “That Jesus Christ died for us does not mean, therefore, that we do not have to die, but that we have died in and with Him, that as the people we were we have been done away and destroyed, that we are no longer there and have no more future.”
Salvation is free, but it’s not cheap. It cost Jesus His life; and if you accept His gift, it will cost yours.
More:
If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow Me (Matthew 16:24).
Next:
Extreme measures indicate that the situation is not only desperate but also important. What does the cross say about your value to God?
eppistle on January 29, 2011 at 12:19 am
The severity of the cross is also a reminder that there is no other way for salvation. If there was another way, then the Father would have been senselessly cruel to send His Son to die for us. But when Jesus cried, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me” (Matthew 26:39), the answer from the Father was, “There is no other way,” and so both the Father and the Son made the ultimate sacrifice out of love for us.
Silent Avenger on January 29, 2011 at 11:09 am
I dont understand why God would sacrifice his only son for us. Isnt that a lose. lose situation on his part? What did he gain by doing that? I love the Lord, I just dont understand. If God is God, then why would he need to let that happen?
Abishag on February 7, 2011 at 12:02 pm
Hello! We are told in the Bible that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness for sin.” (Hebrews 9:22) It would be advantageous to read this entire chapter 9, and 10.
We could not follow the law, so Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the law for us. Jesus took all our sins on his shoulders, and died a cruel death, in order to give us eternal life with Him in heaven.
Also, since Jesus died on the cross, but then after being buried, He arose from the grave to ascend to heaven and sit at the right hand of God the Father, …Jesus conquered death. By putting our faith and trust in Him, we believers will live eternally with Him after we ‘pass-on’.
Thank you for your question. You have helped many people understand. God Bless You!
lindagma on January 29, 2011 at 7:22 am
It is a battle…recognizing our own sin in a world that touts “whatever feels good” and lines of morality an goodness erased by “freedom of speech” and “political correctness”. The closer my walk with Jesus, the more I recognize how unworthy…and how much I need Him. And how thankful I am for the gift I cannot give myself.
mike wittmer on January 29, 2011 at 3:15 pm
Silent Avenger:
You are right that the cross was an unimaginable sacrifice on God’s part–Jesus sweat blood in Gethsemane just thinking about it. But it’s not a lose-lose because Jesus didn’t stay dead. We must always take Good Friday with Easter morning–the cross leads to the resurrection.
As for why God had to send his Son in order to save us: God is holy, so he could not simply wink at our sin and stay true to himself. If he had forgiven without justice being served then reality itself would rupture, for God would have contradicted his very being.
We know that God believed the cross was the only way to save us, for when Jesus begged for another way in Gethsemane, he only heard a deafening silence from his Father.
tcarr89 on September 27, 2011 at 1:26 am
When I surrender to God, does that mean I can’t even take a shower or buy groceries when I want to?
tom felten on September 28, 2011 at 10:53 am
Good question, tcarr89. There can be confusion about what it means to submit to God and His will, instead choosing to follow our own desires. One thing it doesn’t mean is that we simply become zombies or puppets—we still have God-given freewill.
When we receive salvation, by believing in Jesus and confessing Him as our Savior, we are then indwelt by God’s Holy Spirit (Romans 10:9, Ephesians 2:8, 1 John 4:15, Ephesians 1:13-14). By surrendering to God, we acknowledge that His Word and plans are superior to ours. We recognize His sovereignty.
As I mentioned, upon receiving salvation, we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will counsel, comfort, and convict us—but we must still make the good and godly decisions. By surrendering to God on a daily basis, we’re choosing to turn from our wrong desires and choices (our sin nature or flesh) and follow God as He lead us toward holy and righteous living. His Word (the Bible), the Holy Spirit, and godly believers (who counsel and point us to God) are key in the transforming of our mind and choices (Romans 12:2).