Good morning, happy Monday, and I hope you had a wonderful Easter!
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
– Jesus, John 10:10-11
Last week (often referred to as Holy Week) we commemorated the event that changed the course of human history, and our response to it can change the course of our eternity.
Today, if you will be so kind, I would like to pause the financial commentary and instead talk about something far more important and consequential … our response to Jesus and the Easter story.
This year I have an even greater appreciation for the historical account of Jesus life, death, and resurrection. In June last year I had the incredible privilege to tour Israel (got the wartime discount 😉) … I got to walk the streets of Jerusalem, I got to sing Christmas carols in Bethlehem, I got to see the empty tomb where Jesus once laid. To say it was life changing would be an understatement.
In his 3-year public ministry, from age 30-33, Jesus amassed an incredible following … and lots of enemies.
Everybody in Israel at the time was looking for a savior, the problem is most had a different thought in their mind on what that would look like.
When it became clear that Jesus’ mission was a threat to the religious establishment the powers that be went to work to get rid of Jesus.
The people were prepared for a military leader, they were ready for a revolution … and when it became clear that Jesus had a different mission, the crowd turned on him. On Palm Sunday the crowd was cheering “Hosanna!” (which means “Save us, we pray”), 5 days later they were yelling “Crucify him!”
Roman crucifixion was reserved only for the worst of the worst criminals. Roman citizens were protected from this torturous death.
Growing up I always thought the cause of death was blood loss with nails being driven into one’s hands and feet, but the reality was actually far worse. What eventually causes someone to die from crucifixion is asphyxiation … basically it’s suffocation because in order to breath one would have to lift themselves up by the nails in their hands to get a breath … eventually they don’t have the strength to do so and they suffocate … after hours and hours, stripped down, almost naked, in a public forum for all to see.
This process could take days, but in Jesus case it was roughly 6 unimaginably torturous hours. Prior to his crucifixion he was beaten, mocked, and tortured. After that he was forced to carry his own cross down the road to the execution site.
Our sin separates us from a holy God. Sin has a price and must be paid for. It would be blatantly unfair to let crimes go unpunished. If someone committed a crime against me or my family, I would most certainly want them to be punished.
But the crimes of mankind, your sins, my sins, were punished … but they were put on the shoulders of Jesus on the cross instead of being paid by the ones who did the crimes.
The price for my sin was paid … it just wasn’t paid by me. Jesus stepped in and took the punishment I deserved.
Metaphorically, He jumped in front of the firing squad … for a bullet that I deserved.
That is love.
While on the cross Jesus made 7 short statements. Speaking while suffocating would magnify the already excruciating pain. One of the statements Jesus said was, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
The sin (mine, yours) placed on Jesus while He was on the cross was so great that God had to turn away.
Jesus experienced in this moment something that we will never experience … God abandoning Him. I can only imagine that was more painful than even the nails driven through His hands and feet.
Here’s the thing … Jesus willingly took that punishment for me … He took that punishment for you. He died so that we can live!
That is love.
This is not something to address casually, this is not just a nice story we listen to once a year and then go about our normal lives … this is a life-changing, eternity-changing story.
Our response to this sacrifice will affect every aspect of our lives, both here on this earth and beyond.
A few weeks ago, my last remaining grandparent died. My Grandpa Hunt was 92 years old and is now buried at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL. You can go and visit his gravesite. If you were to dig it up (not advisable, and probably illegal 😉) you would find his dead body.
Here’s the best part … Jesus didn’t stay dead. I visited his tomb … and it is empty!!!
Not only did Jesus pay for our grotesque sins with his gruesome death, but He also then defeated death by resurrecting from the dead!
He is alive and victorious!
This is the best news in the history of the world! The greatest day in history!
And the amazing news does not even end there … Jeus not only paid the price for our sins, but He also invites us to be a part of His victory!
That is love.
The Easter message is that we can be alive and victorious!
My friends, I don’t know where you are in your faith journey, but with every fiber of my being may I encourage you to explore this story. Be skeptical, be curious, be investigatory … but seek truth. There is nothing like finding Jesus!
Thank you for allowing me to put on my preacher hat this Monday morning.
If there is anything I can do to support you on your financial or spiritual journey, please give me a call or shoot me an email. It’s an incredible honor to be a part of your story.
Make it a great week ahead.