The crucifixion of Jesus was the most horrific and humiliating death imaginable. He was whipped, scourged, mocked, and nailed to a wooden cross, exposed to public shame and ridicule. He was hung between two criminals, as if He was the worst of them. He was abandoned by most of His disciples, and even felt forsaken by His Father. He was left to die a slow and agonizing death, while the soldiers gambled for His clothes and the passersby hurled insults at Him.
But what the world saw as a sign of weakness and defeat, God saw as a sign of strength and victory. For Jesus did not die as a helpless victim, but as a willing sacrifice. He did not die as a rebel, but as a redeemer. He did not die as a curse, but as a blessing. He did not die as a sinner, but as a Savior.
For by His death, He paid the price for our sins and set us free from the power of evil. By His death, He fulfilled the prophecies and revealed the love of God. By His death, He opened the way to eternal life and invited us to join Him in His resurrection. By His death, He transformed the cross from a symbol of shame to a symbol of glory.
Prayer
Lord God, we thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for us. We praise You for Your wisdom and power, that You turned the cross from a shameful instrument of death into a glorious sign of life. We worship You for Your love and grace, that You gave us forgiveness and salvation through the cross. We adore You for Your faithfulness and mercy, that You raised Jesus from the dead and promised us a share in His resurrection.
Lord God, we ask You to help us follow the example of Your Son, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him. Help us to bear our own crosses with courage and patience, knowing that You are with us and for us. Help us to share the message of the cross with others, that they may also know the hope and peace that You offer. Help us to live in the light of the cross, that we may always glorify You and honor You.
Lord God, we look forward to the day when we will see Your Son face to face, and worship Him in His glory. We long for the day when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to Your glory, O God our Father. We pray in the name of Jesus, who died on the cross and rose again. Amen.
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