THE POWER OF THE SACRIFICE AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!
But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. (Isaiah 53:4-6 NLT)
When Jesus was dying on the cross of Calvary, many did not understand the power that was in the Lord’s sacrifice. They were so far from understanding the gift God was giving to humanity. They injured and mocked Him. Today, there are still many people who do not comprehend the power of Christ’s cross and His resurrection, which is why they can’t take its benefits.
Benefits of Jesus’ sacrifice:
- Physical healing. (Isaiah 53:4-5). All illness and pain, no matter how grave, was left on Jesus back when he was whipped.
- We are freed: All guilt that was a burden to our lives, all arguments that Satan threw against us was cancelled. Curses that we inherited from our family, the hurtful words that marked our lives were all taken on the cross. Jesus’ blood nullified everything that was against us. (Colossians 2:14)
- We receive peace and inner healing. (Isaiah 53:5) He suffered to take our hurt, sadness, rejection, depression, sadness, and anguish. He has the power to heal the wounds we received throughout life and give us the peace we so long for.
- Forgiveness of our sins and salvation for our soul. Recognizing Jesus’ sacrifice is what qualifies us to be saved.
Romans 6:23 tells us that what we deserve for our rebellion is eternal death, in other words hell. However, God gave us Jesus so that, through Him, we would be able to have eternal life.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 NLT)
Think about it:
What benefits of Jesus’ sacrifice do you need to take?
What difference will it make in your life to know the benefits of the cross?
Have you given your life to Jesus so that you can enjoy these benefits?
