Who would you die for? When I think of dying for someone I think of it as in jumping in to save them by putting my life on the line to rescue them from imminent danger or death.   When it comes to saving our loved ones most of us would dive in without even thinking about the consequences of danger to ourselves.  We all say we would die for our children, parents or spouse, but would you die for someone you don’t know?   How about someone who stole something from you or hurt you or a family member? What about a man who murdered someone, would you die for him?  That is exactly what Jesus did,  He died for someone, actually he died for lots of someone’s, He died for all of us.   He died for you and for me, no matter who we are or what we have done.  He died for our sins so that we could be saved.  He saved us from the danger of what our sins have done already or what they eventually will lead us to.  He saved us from being lost.  He saved us from having to spend our eternity in Hell to put it bluntly.  I know a lot of people don’t like to hear the “H” word but its the honest truth so it needs to be said.

As Jesus was hanging on the cross, hanging right beside him was a thief. The thief admitted his sin and asked for Jesus to save him.  Jesus told the thief he would have a place in Heaven (Luke 23:39-43)  One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  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, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”  as you just read, Jesus saved the thief.

Another thing Jesus did as he hung on the cross was he prayed for the men who had put him there.  In Luke 23:34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.  “And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.  Can you imagine?  They beat him, ridiculed him, nailed him on a cross, hung him high for all the people to see and then they divided up his clothes amongst themselves! It’s hard to believe it but I have to say it,  just as He was there for you and I, He was also there for them.  Whether we want to believe it or not we are all sinners and a sin is still a sin no matter how big or small the sin.  In God eyes the white liar is forgiven just the same as the murderer.   We all have our sins and they were all washed clean by the blood of Jesus as he hung on the cross saving us all from imminent danger.  He did it for us, ALL of us.  The only thing that we have to do to receive this gift of forgiveness and salvation is…realize we are a sinner, tell Jesus how truly sorry we are for our sin, ask for His forgiveness then turn your life over to him…really  its that easy 🙂  Jesus said the only way to the father is through me  John 14:6  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 

Sometimes when I see sadness in the world or when the trials of my life seem to be getting the best of me, the only way I can make it through is by keeping my eyes on Jesus.  When I am looking to Him, I try to remember him hanging on that cross, alone, taking all the filth and dirt of the world on his shoulders.  Taking it all upon himself, the greatest sacrifice of all, way more harder a burden to bear than any burden I could ever have.  When I think of it like that it puts it all into perspective for me.   He took it all for you and for me so that we can be set free.  He gave His life, He died for us so we could be saved 🙂