Reading Plan:
Luke 23

Why did God turn His back on His own son?

Why the violence and bloodshed?

Couldn't there have been another way?

When the Israelites were still captives in Egypt under the rule of Pharaoh, God unleashed multiple plagues against Pharaoh and the rest of Egypt. The tenth and final plague was the plague of the first-born son. Families were required to find a perfect lamb, sacrifice the lamb, and put the blood of the perfect, spotless lamb over the doorposts of their homes. If the blood was over the doorpost, then the Lord would "pass over" the home and spare the firstborn son. If the blood was not over the doorpost, the firstborn of all families in Egypt were slain.

There was no other option. The blood of a perfect lamb spread over the doorposts of their homes was the only acceptable atonement for their sins.

Atonement: the sacrifice that satisfies the wrath and punishment of a holy and just God.

When Jesus was on the cross, the way of His death was not merely the chosen punishment of man. It was the fulfillment of God's ultimate redemption plan.

Hebrews 9:22 tells us that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. The shedding of blood on the cross by the Perfect Lamb was the final, once and for all, sacrifice. The perfect blood of Jesus was the only acceptable atonement for the wrath of God against the sins of humanity.

The good, just, and holy wrath of God was fully satisfied by the sacrifice of Jesus -- His Son, the perfect Lamb. God's wrath was not only displayed in the death of Jesus but in the darkness that fell over the Earth which we read about in Luke 23:44-46. The darkness of the Earth was the wrath of God on display -- the turning away of God from His Son, a separation of God from Jesus as He bore the sin of the world.

Jesus' obedience to the will of God on the cross is our only hope for redemption. Jesus died the death we deserve so we can live a life we don't deserve. Jesus bore the weight of God's punishment for our sin so we can live in freedom. Jesus was rejected by His Father so we can walk in fellowship with God now and for eternity.

Do not let the significance of Jesus' death on the cross be lost on you. Do not let it become simply the Easter story you can repeat flippantly. Instead, let the significance of Jesus' death on the cross spur you toward a life worthy of His sacrifice -- a life lived in a way that honors the redemptive plan of God. Accept the salvation which comes only from the death of Jesus on the cross, and make the most of your walk with God now and in a way that ripples into eternity.

Reflection & Response:

• Have you accepted God's forgiveness of your sin? His forgiveness is possible not because of what you have done to clean up your life or because of your own efforts. God will forgive your sins because of what Jesus did on your behalf when He willingly died on the cross. Allow yourself to receive God's forgiveness and eternal salvation!
  
• Pray: God, I believe Jesus lived a perfect life and died a necessary death out of obedience to you and on my behalf. I accept what He did for me, and I ask you to forgive my sins through the atoning blood of Jesus. I surrender my life to you and commit to a life under your lordship and authority.

Have Kids?

• Jesus lived a sinless life. He never chooses His own way. He always chooses God’s way. Jesus chose to die on the cross for all of us. When Jesus died on the cross and then rose three days later, it made a way for all of us to be forgiven - even though we chose our way instead of God’s way.
  
• Jesus has forgiven us because of what Jesus has done for us. What do you need to tell God that you are sorry for? Spend time telling God you are sorry for choosing your way instead of His way. Then, spend time praying for each family member after they have asked for forgiveness for their sins. Make sure to remind everyone that God doesn't shame us. Once we have a relationship with Jesus and ask for forgiveness of our sins, God forgives us.
  
• Jesus has forgiven us, but He also asks us to forgive other people. It can be really hard to forgive someone, but Jesus helps us when we have a relationship with Him. Who is someone you need to forgive this week? After everyone has had the chance to share who they need to forgive, pray for healing and pray for the other person.