4/2/2021 - WE OWED A DEBT WE COULD NOT PAY.

As we approach the Easter season, which for some folks is the only time Jesus crosses their minds, we are reminded as children of God, to reflect on the sacrifice God the Father made for us in sending Jesus to pay a sin debt He did not owe. We can’t gloss over sin by creating a distraction with the Easter bunny. We can’t distract from the seriousness of the cross with chocolate. Bunnies don’t lay eggs, and chocolate, as delectable as it is, won’t erase sin. Pilate may have washed his hands, but he still handed Jesus, an innocent man, over to be scourged and crucified. We may not have been present but our sins nailed Him to the cross.

It was the human appetite that got us in the sin mess in the first place. We make light of that which is weighty to soothe our consciences, but there’s nothing the Easter bunny can do to fix the human heart. The weight of man’s sin so hurt the heart of God, that He came up with a permanent solution in the person of His only Son Jesus. So the Easter account is not about bunnies, eggs and chocolate, but about sacrifice; the giving up of one’s life for the good or benefit of another.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”

‭‭John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“But when the right time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent Him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as His very own children.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭4:4-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God the Father sent His spotless Lamb to redeem us at a cost no one was able to pay. All because of His love for us. He knew He’d be rejected, despised, lied about, and mistreated by those He came to save. But, He did it anyway because of you and me. He knew that not all would welcome His offer of forgiveness, but He was willing to risk it all for the whosoever’s.

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation‬ ‭22:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Our sin debt was so insurmountable, that no amount of penance would remove it. No sacrifice of animals and the sprinkling of their blood could remove the stain and stench of it. There weren’t enough laws to keep, that could atone for it. The vileness of the human heart and nature, demanded more from a Righteous and Holy God. God wanted justice for the sin of mankind. Only One was found worthy...Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God. Not only was He found worthy, He was willing. The apostle Paul penned these words under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit:

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:6-8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

HE PAID A DEBT HE DID NOT OWE.

“So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned Him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified. Some of the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into their headquarters and called out the entire regiment. They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on His head, and they placed a reed stick in His right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before Him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” And they spit on Him and grabbed the stick and struck Him on the head with it. When they were finally tired of mocking Him, they took off the robe and put His own clothes on Him again. Then they led Him away to be crucified.

The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Look at you now!” they yelled at Him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!” The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but He can’t save Himself! So He is the King of Israel, is He? Let Him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in Him! He trusted God, so let God rescue Him now if He wants Him! For He said, ‘I Am the Son of God.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27:26-31, 39-43‬ ‭NLT‬‬

He could’ve done everything they wanted Him to do that day, but He chose the cross.

Where are our faces and voices in the mob? Are we mocking Him with our haphazard on again off again relationship? Are we as the scripture says, crucifying the Lord afresh by our manner of living. Hebrews 6. Are we jeering and ridiculing Him, because we didn’t get what we prayed for? Are we mocking Him because we have misunderstood His sacrifice? Or are you weeping like Mary? Broken by what He has suffered for us? When Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ was released, I could not bear to watch. I went to the movies, but had my eyes closed the entire time during the scourging. I bought the dvd but still couldn’t watch it. That’s the most accurate depiction I’ve seen so far of what Jesus suffered for our sin debt.

Years after its release, one day the Holy Spirit said to me. “I need for you to watch the movie.” I protested. But He lovingly insisted that I did. So one afternoon, I was by myself, Sheri was away at school. So I braced myself and in obedience watched the Passion for the first time. I experienced a myriad of emotions. It broke me. I saw what my sin did to Him. I heard my voice in the crowd. I too had rejected at one point in my life His offer of redemption. Like Peter, I had denied knowing Him. And then sadness and remorse was replaced with repentance and gratitude. He did that for me? He humbled Himself to His creation to be mistreated and crucified for me? I didn’t even ask Him to, but He willingly stretched out His hands to be nailed to a cross for me? Then Isaiah 53 came flooding into my heart and mind. I immediately made this bold confession. “I don’t ever have to be sick another day in my life!” By His wounds I am forever healed! I have rejected sickness and disease remaining in my body from that day. That’s why He wanted me to watch the movie. I was already forgiven, but I needed to grasp the revelation on healing by His wounds.

A few months later, I was reading an article by Gloria Copeland, and she had the same encounter I did. The Holy Spirit told her to watch the movie, at the end she came to the same conclusion I did, and said the same words I did. I don’t have to be sick another day! I couldn’t believe we had both avoided the movie, and after we were told to watch it, walked away with the same revelation. God is amazing. We’ve never met, but God had something in store for us both.

So my dear friends. Is Easter at your house about the bunny and chocolate eggs? Is it about new Easter clothes and hats? Is it about a special meal and family fun time? Or is it a time of reflection and gratitude? Are you a mocker or a worshipper? Sin demanded justice, we had no way of paying. Mercy stepped up in the person of Jesus and paid our sin debt in full. What’s your response going to be on Sunday morning?

“Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put Him.” She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought He was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will go and get Him.” “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to Him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”). “Don’t cling to Me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find My brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’”

‭‭John‬ ‭20:11-17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Is He ALIVE in you? Have you acknowledged and recognized Him as your Savior and Lord? Has your heart been broken by the realization of what He’s suffered for you? If you haven’t seen the Passion of the Christ by Mel Gibson, I encourage you to, if you own it but haven’t watched it in a while, dust it off and watch it with your family this Easter. This isn’t for young children, but it’s a great way to share the gospel with family and friends. And it’s also a good reminder of what we as believers take for granted every day. When Isaiah wrote that He was disfigured from the beatings, Isaiah 52:14, My mind couldn’t grasp it. They placed the crown of thorns on His head, and proceeded to hit Him on the head, driving the thorns deeper into His skull, the steel tipped whips tore into His flesh and ripped it away with each blow. The cruelty He suffered at the hands of men, was the payment for their and our sin. Think about that. They were being offered forgiveness with each blow! I can’t grasp that!!

So why are you still living with sin, why are you still sick, poor, depressed, oppressed, weak, weary, lonely, hungry and thirsty? Understanding all you’ve read in scripture concerning the finished work of our redemption through Christ Jesus, why have we not changed? Why are we continuing to live as though we still owe a debt to sin? If you’re still between two opinions, I pray that this Easter will be your turning point. If you’re slacking in your obedience to Him, I pray this Easter will be your time of recommitment to Him. In this cancel culture, gratitude is in short supply. But this is one sacrifice that demands a verdict. A verdict on where you stand. As far as Jesus and the Father are concerned; the debt has been paid in full. It demands a verdict of gratitude, worship, praise and thanksgiving to Jesus. It demands a verdict of full surrender.

“Jesus knew that His mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture He said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to His lips. When Jesus had tasted it, He said, “It is finished!” Then He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”

‭‭John‬ ‭19:28-30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I pray you’ll all have a blessed Easter as you commemorate His coming, His death, His burial, and His glorious resurrection, ascension and His imminent return.

“After saying this, He was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see Him. As they strained to see Him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday He will return from heaven in the same way you saw Him go!”

‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭1:9-11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Written by permission of the Holy Spirit

W. Tennant

April 2, 2021