This is the week we look forward to Easter. On Sunday we will celebrate with Christians across the world that the savior fulfilled his promise to save us from our sins through his sacrifice on the cross. Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection are the hinges on which our faith hangs. Often however, we gloss over the first part in Jesus’s death. It’s like we’ve been given spoilers for a movie and the cliffhanger loses all its punch because we know the hero is going to pull through.

Sadly, we lose perspective when we don’t take in the whole story. Crucifixion is a horrible, tortuous way to die. Beyond that, in Jesus’s lead up to the cross he was beaten, mocked, and tortured. It was not as clean and tidy as all those renaissance paintings make it out to be. It was dark and sad and painful, but Jesus did it for us. He went through it because of the love he had for his children.

It's hard to wrap our minds around having that sacrifice made on our behalf. Most of us have lived such a blessed life that we’ve probably have never been close enough to danger to see that kind of choice made. And through all of the pain and agony Jesus had a singular focus.

As he hung on the cross between two criminals he had this seemingly final conversation. Luke 23:39-43

39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Jesus forgave them then and he will forgive you now. He came so that you may have life eternal.