Cross Words #2

Luke 23:41-43
“We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”


This thief on the cross seemed to understand what we try to forget – that we all deserve death.  If God were to annihilate all humanity no one could claim He was unfair or unjust.  We would simply be “getting what our deeds deserve.”  This second statement of Jesus from the cross is important because it assures us we do not have to “get what we deserve.”

The law of Kharma, in Texas terms says, “What goes around comes around.”  You get what you deserve.  The cross graciously crushes that concept forever.  I don’t get what I deserve.  By exchanging places with Jesus on the cross I get to be made right with God, I get to enjoy what only He deserved.  Does that seem unfair? It is!  Does it seem too easy?  It isn’t!  It was very difficult – so difficult that in anguish Jesus asked if there was any way He could avoid it.

It was hard, even for God, to pay the price to forgive my sins.  But it was impossible for me to do it so, if it was to be done, God Himself had to inflict the penalty for my sin upon Himself.  “This man has done nothing wrong” yet He absorbed the sin of the entire world so the entire world could have the opportunity to become right with God.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21
We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

1 John 2:22
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.NIV