1 Peter 2:22-25 - 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
As we reach the mid-point of Holy Week, it’s easy to get lost in the fanfare of celebrating Easter. Do we have the right candy? Does everyone have the right pastel clothes to wear? What else do we need to have at our Easter feast? And like any other holiday, the questions go on and on about how we can celebrate “right.”
It makes sense that the resurrection we celebrate on Easter Sunday is one of the main lynchpins of our faith. Christianity is a faith centered around renewal and second chances. However, it is easy to forget the sacrifice that was made to get us to where we are today. Christ’s death on the cross was not an easy thing for Jesus to face.
Jesus took up a cross that was not his to carry. He faced scorn and ridicule that he did not deserve. As he was tortured and hung on that tree he did not lash out, he did not try to escape, he trusted in the promises made by God the Father—the one who judges justly. And he did it for one reason, that those who would believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
By his wounds we are healed. We have hope for the future. Before you get caught up in the fanfare of knowing the end of the story, take some time to recognize how it began. Jesus knew what was going to happen and came to seek and to save the lost anyway.
Where once we were lost, now we are found!