Love so amazing…!

By Dr. Stafford Cripps

These days we focus our eyes, our thoughts and attention on the Cross of Calvary where Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Lamb of God was bruised and battered for my sins, your sins and the sins of the whole world!

Isaiah 53:5 says - "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him; by His stripes we are healed."

Jesus Christ died for mankind, is history. Jesus died for My sins and for My iniquities are a reality and a fact.

Now to understand the depth, height and width of His love which is so amazing, let's go to a place called Calvary and behold The Son of God, the Lamb of God, taking away the sins of the whole world! As we focus on the Cross of Calvary, and as we meditate the Holy Scriptures, let's ponder about a very important question that crops up in our minds time and again especially during these Lenten days...

Is there a father in this world who will let his son be persecuted, suffer excruciating pain and agonizing death in the hands of wicked and brutal men knowing fully well that he has the power to rescue and save him from it all and yet not make an effort to save him..?  Impossible! There isn't a father in this whole world who would stand by and witness wicked men drive cruel spikes into the hands and feet of His only son and yet not make an effort to save him. But God did! When His Only begotten Son, His nearest and dearest cried in the midst of untold agony - "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me..?" our Heavenly Father looked away from The Cross! But WHY..? Was it not possible for God Almighty to send fire and brim stones from Heaven and destroy those wicked people? It was possible! Was it not possible for the Creator of this universe to create an earth quake on Mt. Golgotha and push those people down to hell..? It was possible! In Matthew 26:53 we read - Gabriel and 12 legions of angels were hovering over the rim of this universe with their swords unsheathed and just a look from His blessed face would have been sufficient for them to descend from heaven and destroy those terrible people. But God did not respond that way! Do you know why? Because God knew that if He were to rescue His Son from the Cross you and I would have perished in this world because in Romans 6:23 we read - "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

 Many of the Non-Christians ask a very vital question - Was there any purpose, cause, reason or justification for the One Who was the source of all creation (John 1:3), Who led a most holy and righteous life (Hebrews 7:26) in this world and the One Who performed great and mighty miracles (john 10:25) to die such a death - Death of agony, persecution and shame on the Cross..? Why His death was so different and so horrible?  Why JESUS had to die as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world? (John1:29, Matthew 1:21) In Zechariah 18:20 we read - "The soul that sinneth shall die". In Hebrews 9:22 it's recorded - "Without the shedding of blood, there's no remission of sin." In Leviticus 17:11 it is written - "It's the blood that makes atonement for the soul... and the life of a man is in the blood!" So, to give us life eternal Jesus Christ had to die as a supreme sacrifice on Mt.Golgatha.

 As we remember the depth of His suffering, let's remember the statement made by Prophet Isaiah, son of Amos 750 years before the birth of Christ in chapter 53 which is known as the substitution chapter where he wrote in verse 5 - "HE was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities..." then only we'll be able to understand His Love which is so amazing and so marvelous!

As the Passion Week is approaching let's confess individually - "JESUS died for My sins and My iniquities" and let us humble ourselves before His Mercy Seat and pray to our Savior to break us, mould us, cleanse us and fill us with the power of the Holy Spirit so that in this short span of life, since our days are numbered (Psalm 90:12) we will be able to lead a life witnessing for Him at market place and place of work that will bring glory to His precious name.

Evangelist C.T.Studd once said - If Jesus Christ is God and died for me

Then no sacrifice that I can make will be too great for Him.

In the light of His countenance, all our good deeds will fade into insignificance...

AS WE PONDER THE WONDER OF HIS LOVE WHICH IS SO AMAZING, Let's keep asking a very important question like King David who asked in Psalm 116:12 - "What shall I give unto Thee O Lord in return for Thy great love and sacrifice..? And respond as exhorted by St. Paul in Romans 12:1 where we read - "Therefore I beseech you, brothers in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship..."