Little did Caiaphas know that in saying, "It was better to have one person die for the people," he was announcing what Jesus was about to do, die on the cross for all people, even me. One person dies for all. One person dies the death we deserved. One person makes possible a new relationship with God and eternal life.
What does it mean to me that Jesus willingly died for me? It means everything. My whole basis for being, my whole life philosophy, my whole understanding of life and death, my relationships, the way I order my life- it all flows from Christ's death on the cross for me. I sometimes wonder, what if I had not come to faith? I was about 14 years old when my faith became alive and real to me. That set me on my life course. What if that had not occurred? Where would I be now? What would my life look like? Thankfully, I don't need to spend much time thinking about such things. God, through the faithful witness of many and by the power of the Holy Spirit, got through to me. It means everything to me that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. I am so grateful God broke through to me with His love!
There is nothing I can add to Pastor Jeff's reflection today, he really says it all. It makes me weep to think that Jesus willing went to the cross to have a relationship with me. There is no greater Love.
ReplyDeleteI like what we said during the Lenten service when we discussed this day: don't feel guilty, receive the gift. Sometimes this whole concept of Christ's love and sacrifice is so incomprehensible that we have a hard time receiving it. We feel unworthy. That's not what He wants...He wants us to JOY-fully receive the most amazing gifts we have ever been given!
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