Atonement at the Cross

Read Philippians 2:5-11.

Every one of the more than eight billion people alive in the world today was born with a spiritual debt that we could never repay. At first, we inherited it, and then we added to it. But God in His mercy has provided a way of escape from this prison of spiritual debt. On the cross, God the Son paid it all so that every repentant sinner who comes to Christ in faith can be set free from this crushing debt.

But who crucified Jesus? Some say it was Judas, who, out of greed, delivered Jesus to the priests. Others would say it was the priests, who handed Jesus over to Pontius Pilate. Still others would say it was Pilate, who signed off on Jesus’ execution. But when Jesus was hanging on that cross in agony, He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

The Truth is Jesus chose the cross for Himself. He went to the cross deliberately and willingly. He came from heaven and was born as a baby to die upon it. At the right time, He set His face toward Jerusalem (see Luke 9:51). He would not let His disciples or anyone else sway Him; He knew He had come to die in this way. Jesus willingly, voluntarily, resolutely went to the cross. And He did it out of love, a love so great that He stood in our place, bearing the crushing punishment for our sin and satisfying forever the justice of God.

Prayer: Jesus, Your love overwhelms me. I cannot fully fathom it; it humbles and sustains me. You are my Rock and my Redeemer. I long to live for You, the lover of my soul. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.