Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Suffering and death

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34).

Suffering and death. These are topics that we shy away from if at all possible. No one likes to suffer, and only extreme suffering can make a person look forward to death. Spending time with people who are suffering or dying makes us feel uncomfortable; we feel powerless to help and don’t know what to say or how to act. Most folks want to get out of a hospital or funeral home as quickly as possible.

God took away the curse of sin forever. But that accomplishment came at a terrible price—God’s own Son had to suffer and die. Our sin demands God’s righteous judgment—death, followed by punishment in hell. But on the cross, Jesus took our place. He assumed responsibility for everything that we’ve done wrong—every harsh word, every broken promise, every wasted opportunity to perform an act of kindness. Jesus accepted God’s punishment for your sins and mine; on that bloody cross, He suffered all the agony of hell that you and I deserve.

We don’t like to talk about suffering and death. We don’t like to see it or hear about it. And yet we are responsible for Jesus' cross; our sins made His sacrifice necessary. If Jesus had not suffered and died, there would be no forgiveness. We would have no relief from years of accumulated guilt. The only thing death could offer us is everlasting torment in the fires of hell.

Jesus’ suffering and death were terrible, but the result is great blessing for us. If you ask Him, Jesus will forgive you. The blood He shed on the cross will wash away your guilt and free you from being a slave to regret. Because God’s punishment for sin has already been carried out, you don’t have to fear going to hell when you die; Jesus has already gone there to tell Satan that he can’t have you!

Don’t be afraid of suffering and death. On the cross, Jesus made them into the greatest blessings of all time. Come to the foot of Calvary's cross to see what Christ endured for you there, and be touched by His incredible love for you.

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