At This Sight, At This Love

 Romans 5:8, But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

If we could have actually seen the cross... I doubt that love would have been the first thing to cross our minds.

To see a man betrayed, a man falsely accused, beaten, mocked, scorned, crucified.

We probably would not have called that love. But sorrow — yes, definitely sorrow.

We could call the man hung on the cross — who was the object of torment and the target of God’s fury who had been deserted and left all alone — we could call Him a man of sorrows.

But not love. 

We wouldn’t be able to call that love until we understood something else — something so important that we’d be shocked to discover it, even confused. 

Now imagine this... ...that you are standing there, looking at the cross, seeing Jesus suffer.

You see the crown of thorns cutting into His head, and the blood running down His face...

You see the raw wounds from the scourging, and the nails piercing through His hands and feet.

You’d be looking at Him in sorrow — you’d feel terrible for him! That this man had been betrayed, falsely accused, beaten, mocked, scorned, and now crucified.

But then, as all these emotions are flooding through.

Someone walks up to you and says, “Excuse me, but you should know that you were the one who was supposed to be on that cross.” 

You’re taken back... you must have misheard him, confused, you reply, “Wait? What do you mean?” 

This person replies back, “Yes, it’s true. You were the one who was guilty.
You were the one who sinned, who turned your back on God, who worshiped lesser things instead of him.
You were the one who was supposed to die and face the wrath of God.” 

And at this moment, you are stunned. You lift your head and set your eyes again on the cross, on the Man who hangs there dying.

It’s then that you realize, He has been betrayed, falsely accused, beaten, mocked, scorned, crucified... For me? He has done all this for me? 

You stare up at Him again... and then you feel in the depths of your soul — that in and through all His sorrow, before and beyond all His agony, there is His love — His amazing love.

Jesus has taken your place. He has suffered as your substitute.

The fury of God’s judgment that you deserved has been poured out on Him. All of the weight, all of the shame — it all has been laid on Him.

The cross of sorrow, is the cross of your salvation.

Grace is being poured out. Mercy is triumphing.

Your debt is being paid, right here, right now, as you watch this Man die. Your debt is being paid in full.

The curse of sin is breaking. The tyranny of sin undone. You are being set free. 

What do we do here? What could we ever say about such a sight?  

Imagine, if you will, the immense wonder that floods your soul. At this sight, at this love. You cannot help but to cry out... Hallelujah! Praise and honor unto Thee!