When we think of someone dying it’s usually a sad occasion. The loss of a loved one is a heart breaking experience. But, when it comes to Jesus’ death, there is a sense of awe amongst His followers. Why is that?
Jesus’ death is set apart from any other in human history because of it’s impact across generations. For nearly 2,000 years His name has been in the mouths of people all over the world, and it will continue to be until the world ceases to exist.
Jesus’ death offers life and healing to all who believe in Him and follow Him:
But He was pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; The punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, And by His wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5
This word, healed (Strong’s Concordance number H7495), covers every aspect of healing that is needed by humanity. It is personal and national, physical, spiritual, and emotional. It fills our empty hearts, satisfies the deep longings of our souls, cures our physical ailments, and cleanses our conscience from the guilt of wrong doing.
Before Christ’s sacrifice God’s people lived by His law and the Ten Commandments. Keeping the Law required purity of heart. Once they realized it was impossible to keep, it made people to see their own sin in the light of God’s holiness. It made them understand their need for redemption. The Law was made to prepare people’s hearts for the Messiah; Christ, their redeemer.
In accordance with the Law, the Jews sacrificed animals on special holidays several times per year and held feasts in order to have communion with God. They had to work their way to God because of the guilt of their conscience. According to this system the sacrifices would never stop. They were man’s way of working toward God, but God can’t be reached. He needed to reach down or He would remain untouchable.
The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared. But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God,
“You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God—as is written about me in the Scriptures.’”
First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.
Hebrews 10:1-10
God’s plan from the beginning, in the Garden of Eden, was always much bigger than just dwelling amongst His people. In the Garden He breathed His own breath of life, or spirit, inside of man. God dwelt inside of Adam on day one of his existence. Man lost God’s Holy Spirit because of sin, but Christ the Messiah, the redeemer of mankind, restored to us what was lost. God wanted to dwell within His people from day one, and through Christ He can do that once again!
God desires an intimate connection with His people far more than we desire Him. But our bodies and our hearts’ longings make it known to us that our lives are missing something. Much like these Jewish sacrifices, the things we use to try and fill the void (drugs, alcohol, retail therapy, sex, entertainment, etc.) are temporary. They must be done again and again in order for us to receive their pleasure, and they usually come with negative consequences when done in excess.
When God adds to us, He does it without sorrow. The Holy Spirit fills the void inside, changes our desires, brings peace, restores our minds and relationships. He leads us to true life, not the farce the world promises and can’t deliver. The Holy Spirit reaches into the places the world can’t to touch your soul and introduce you to life.
Have you accepted Christ as Lord and Savior? If you have, take a minute and share your testimony below. If you haven’t, I’m curious to know what holds you back. Please share your thoughts.