Something Had to Be Done

Something Had to Be Done

Good Morning Friends,

The moveable feast of this year’s Holy week comes pretty late. People ask why, but I am not going to answer that question this morning but a much more important one. Friends, as Christians we need to have an answer when people ask, “Why Jesus had to die?” The answer is that up until Jesus, the sin of the human condition made us all at odds with God. Because we are accountable to God. Because God is just and holy and because God is indignant about our sin… Because he loves us. Something Had to Be Done.

Scripture: For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God.
For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Romans 5:6-11(NRSV)

Message: The Easter message is clear. God regards us as creatures of significance. We are to be accountable but are also powerless to impact the debilitating reality of sin. We need to receive reconciliation. Jesus asked if there was another way. We do as well, but ultimately the only eternal conclusion is the same. We need to be justified by Christ’s blood shed for us. His body broken for us. Jesus needs to bear our sin because we are depraved and cannot bear it on our own. Friends, what we do is a manifestation of who we are…and we are impatient sinners in need of a forgiving God. Thankfully when God forgives sin, the record is expunged, the remembrance erased and the recipient is empowered. We have been justified by His blood and we shall be saved from God’s wrath. We are reconciled by His death and we are saved by His life. We have received reconciliation and we are to rejoice in a God who loves us. Face your sin. Be forgiven. Be empowered by Christ’s life, by Jesus’ death, by the resurrection of the Body.

Pray that all our sin has been blotted out and utterly forgiven. Pray we have the Holy Spirit living within us. Pray we celebrate the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Pray we believe in the divinity of Christ. Pray we become players in the passion. Pray grace awaken in us, through faith in Jesus.

Blessings,

John Lawson