Have you ever had a friend take the fall for you? That happened to me. You see, I did some stupid stuff...but I had a friend of mine step up and pay the price...take my punishment. It wasn't just for one thing I did it was for all the wrong things I ever did, it was for all the wrong things I ever would do.
The crazy part is that he was happy to do it... And the really crazy part is he said I didn't owe him anything. He said the whole point of him taking my punishment is so I wouldn't owe anybody anything and I could be free.
Because I was so thankful, so moved by this grand gesture, I guess you could say I fell in love with him. After I started getting to know him I realized how incredible he really was. Not only had he done this for me but he had taken the punishment for many many others too...In fact he had done it for everybody.
My heart really started to break when I realized how many of these people didn't care about what he had done for them... So many extremely intelligent, exceedingly kind people simply weren't taking the time to find out if what he did is true or not. Some people even kind of understand it but deny that it ever happened or deny that it applies to them. It hurts me for him but it scares me for them.
Turns out even though he paid the price for every body, if you don't accept his sacrifice, if you don't allow his payment to count for you...you still have to pay your own debt again.
I thank God every day that I somehow figured it out and was able to allow him to pay my debt for me. I just wanted to confess that this happened and let everybody know that I'm a sinner and since "The wages of sin is death" I was suppose to be punished for eternity because of my defiance, but my friend Jesus allowed himself to be wrongly accused for all MY SINS (and yours) and was beaten, and pierced, and mocked, and killed by crucifixion...all for me (AND YOU!) but you will not believe what happened next!
It turns out that my friend Jesus is actually the son of God and not only did he die for me but he was able to conquer that death and rise again because, well he is a part of God who created the whole idea of life and death so of course he is master of it.
Today, on Good Friday we think about the sacrifice he made, and the fact that he was perfect but took on everyone else's punishment. On Easter Day, we celebrate that he's bigger than life and death... That he conquered the grave…he is bigger than crime and punishment...he is bigger than sin and pain and guilt and really anything this life on earth has to offer.
If you want his punishment to count for you, all you have to do is ask him. Just close your eyes and tell him you know you're a sinner and that you know he's the son of God...that you know he paid your debt for you and that you accept...and that you want him to come into your heart.
It really is that simple. Happy Easter. -Katrina Harman Roper
