God
is true love.
He
sent His only begotten Son to the world
to save mankind from sins (1 Jn 4:9).
He came as a man (Lk 2:5-7),
was conceived by the Spirit and appeared as Immanuel (Mt 1:18).
He separated righteousness and unrighteousness in the world (Mt 5:17-20).
While dying on the cross,
He cried out, “Why have you forsaken me?” (Mt 27:46).
He came to die and fulfilled God’s will (Jn 19:30).
It was not only His body that died.
Even His reputation and honor were cursed (Gal 3:13)
when He died.
This happened because God loved the world so much (Jn 3:16).
The One who was loved by God (Mt 3:17)
came to do the Father’s will, but the world abandoned Him.
We were saved because He was abandoned.
God loved and was pleased with Him
but the world cursed and killed Him.
He was punished instead of sinners deserving death (Lk 23:46-47).
○ At that time, Roman soldiers cast lots for His purple clothing.
This was the peak of mankind’s lusts
and the world completely fled from God.
○ The criminals who hung on their crosses
slandered Jesus and reviled Him to the last.
Travelers who passed by also saw the cross and cursed Him.
○ We threw off our heavy sins
when He suffered,
just like the Bible says, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.”
※ If we understand this great grace,
we should be free from the Law’s condemnation.
Let’s not believe reluctantly like the man from Cyrene, but become true martyrs.