Monday, December 15, 2008

OUR SUBSTITUTE

In the movie, THE LAST EMPEROR, there is a young child who was anointed as the last emperor of China. This child lived a life of luxury with a thousand servants at his command. In the movie, the child's brother asks him a question..."What happens when you do wrong?" And the last emperor proudly responds, "When I do wrong, someone else is punished!"

Further in the movie, the boy demonstrates this unique power that he held and he intentionally breaks a jar. One of his servants took the punishment that the boy himself deserved for doing this.

What an amazing illustration of what Jesus Christ has done for us. However, at the cross, there was one difference than depicted in this movie...when we, the servants (God's children) sinned, the King (Jesus Christ) took our punishment.

All of the sins of the entire world were laid on our Savior at that particular time, and when He died, His last words that he breathed were, "It is finished" The debt had been paid!

Here it is 10 days away from Christmas, a time of the year that we celebrate Jesus birth. But the miracle does not end there. As miraculous as a virgin giving birth is ... the wonder to me is knowing that Jesus came to earth as a man so He could be our living example and then He suffered unmercifully and bled and died for me. A punishment that I deserved but yet He took my place there on Calvary.

Christmas is a time to remember His birth but Christmas time is also about the sacrifice that He made for you and me. The miracle is in His birth and His death!

ISAIAH 53:5 "Jesus was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities...by His wounds we are healed."


If you are looking for the AT THE WELL study today...
HEATHER is hosting this week.
Please check her thoughts out today on the subject of Purity!

No comments: