Jesus, the unfortunate death

or the foretold sacrifice?

By Darrien DeFederico

As a whole, humans tend to live short lives. If we are fortunate, we will live for one hundred years or so. However, the average person does not even live that long, and sometimes tragedy can cut life shorter than even the average. This is why throughout the ages, historical figures tend to be remembered by only one or two things. Julius Caesar is remembered as one of the last leaders of the Roman Republic, whose actions led to its collapse and subsequent rebirth as the Roman Empire. Charlemagne is remembered for reuniting most of Western Europe for the first time after the fall of the Roman Empire. George Washington is remembered as first president of the newly formed United States. Usually, the same is true for us. When we pass on from this life, our friends and family tend to consolidate our actions, and remember us as either a good and supportive person, or as a self absorbed and prideful one.

Good Friday is the day of Jesus' arrest (Matthew 26:47-56), trial (Matthew 26:57-75), crucifixion (Matthew 27:24-44) and death (Matthew 27:45-56). It is the central event of the Christian faith along with the Resurrection. This is what Jesus is remembered for by believers and unbelievers, even if they do not believe in the Resurrection themselves.

While secular history may only remember the general story of Jesus, we know Jesus was more than just a man or prophet who suffered. The Scriptures reveal that Jesus was God who became incarnate in human flesh (John 1:1). In addition to this, Jesus' death was not an unplanned and unfortunate circumstance, but a deliberate action of God from the beginning (Luke 9:21-22). This death was necessary and voluntary in order to redeem mankind from their sins (1 Corinthians 15:1-11). Our sins alienated us from God, and could only be rectified by having a sinless sacrifice (Hebrews 9:11-14). This is why we celebrate Easter. We remember Jesus not only as a man who was wrongly put to death, but as a divinely appointed event that God used to bring us to Him.

Jesus' sacrifice is what enables us to face tomorrow, and to change our lives to be in accordance to what God wants. The hardest sacrifice for followers of Christ is to die to themselves, and to live sacrificially as Jesus did. Jesus did not just come and die in order to benefit us; He called us to do like Him and to serve others. This Easter as we remember Christ's sacrifice for us, we should take a look at our lives and see what kind of legacy we are leaving behind. Do our lives show a servant that is living out the commands of God, or do they show a self absorbed person only concerned about what benefits them? Let us strive to be remembered by the fruits of the spirit we displayed, and not be the evil we have done.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for sending your Son to die for our sins. We did not do something that earned that forgiveness; you freely gave it out of love. Help us to live as Jesus, and to spread the good news about Jesus' death to others so they can be reconciled to you. Amen.