In the most wicked act of injustice in the history of the world, a Man who did no wrong was stripped of all His rights, treated like a horrible criminal, arrested by men who wanted to destroy Him, beaten horribly before His trial, falsely accused of crimes He didn’t commit, subjected to mob injustice, condemned by a judge who thought himself above justice, and sentenced to death by torture.
This sentence was carried out without delay. This alleged criminal was made to carry a cross made of heavy beams of wood to the place of execution. A man was taken from the crowds and forced to help carry the cross for Him. To the top of a hill, on the outskirts of the city, they went. The condemned Man then was made to lay down on the cross, and thick spikes of iron were nailed through the flesh of His hands and feet and into the wood. Then the cross was lifted up and dropped into a hole so it would stand upright. Lifted up between heaven and earth, His death was made a spectacle for the crowd to watch. For six hours He hung in agony on the cross. Then He cried out with a loud voice, “It is finished” (John 19:3030When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30)), bowed His head, gave up His spirit, and died.
Why should this Man who died so unjustly matter to us today?
His death matters because everything in life that we cherish depends upon it. You see, He was far more than only a man. He was the Son of God, the Creator of the universe. From all eternity He was God, but in a moment of time, He became a man also, so that from that time forth, He would be both God and Man in the same person. The Creator of the universe came to earth, and the creatures He made crucified Him!
At any time He could have called thousands of angels to come and stop His crucifixion, but this He would not do. He knew He needed to die and shed His blood, so that sinners might have a way opened to them to find the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life. Oh, the immense favor God conferred on mankind when Christ died for sins! “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)).
Justice, Righteousness and Dignity
If everything in life were weighed in an even balance, we would find that justice, righteousness and dignity are some of the personal qualities that would matter most to us.
Justice is the idea that all persons are treated fairly. God is deeply concerned that we treat others decently and with respect. He does so Himself. He made men and women and endowed them with special gifts. If they never use these gifts for Him, He will let them have their way, even if it means that when they die, they pass into a lost eternity. The justice of this world sometimes miscarries, but God’s justice never miscarries. Sin is nothing to trifle with. God in His perfect justice will see that every person receives their proper due. To those who believe on Him, He will give the gift of eternal life. Those who reject Him and remain in their sins will receive eternal punishment. “These shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal” (Matthew 25:4646And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46)).
Righteousness: When a sinner believes in Christ, God declares him righteous in His sight. Their sins are fully removed: “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Hebrew 10:17).
Dignity: It is only when we realize that “God commendeth His love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)) that we get a true sense of our value in the sight of God.
Desiring justice, judgment and righteousness in this life will surely lead to the Christ of Calvary.
What does the life on the cross matter to you? Everything, for it is only through faith in Jesus Christ that a sinner can be saved. All people matter deeply to God. You matter deeply to Him. He loves you and longs for you to return to Him. Will you believe on the name of Jesus and be saved?