“He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities“– Isaiah 53:5

It was love that sent Jesus to the cross. It was “the joy set before Him” that kept Jesus on the cross. But it was our sins that necessitated the cross.

Why couldn’t Jesus simply come to earth and preach and call for repentance and then go back into heaven? Why was it not good enough for Him to live a perfect life and then return to His Father in heaven? It was because sins, before a holy and just and good God, require punishment.

Because God is just, He will not allow us to go free without punishing our sins. That would be like a judge letting a convicted serial killer back onto the streets.

Because God is good, He will avenge every one of the countless wrongs in the world. He will not allow victims of violence and deceit to be victims for ever.

Most importantly, because God is God He will not allow His holy character and position to be ignored and violated without consequence. Therefore, our sins must be paid for.

The great beauty and tragedy of the cross is that there the perfect Jesus received the wounds for our transgressions, there He was bruised because of our sins. He chose to take our place and receive our punishment.

How can we dare to willfully sin any more, knowing that precisely those sins were what caused the great wounds of our great Savior?– Baptist Bible Hour

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” – 1 Corinthians 1:18

I once met a lawyer on an airplane. We began to talk about what we liked to read. I said, “I read newspapers, books, journals, devotional studies, but primarily the Bible.”

He said, “If you don’t read any further than that, how do you know what to talk about when you speak to people?”

I said, “Sir, man only has three problems: sin, sorrow, and death.”

He answered, “There are more than that.”

I replied, “No, only three.”

“Oh,” he said, “there are other problems.”

I said, “All right, tell me another.”

He went off for a while, came back, and said, “Man only has three problems.”

That’s true. And the cross of Jesus Christ is the only answer to those three problems. You give me all of the wisdom of this world….but there is no other answer apart from the cross.

The Jews want a sign; it is the Cross. The Greeks want wisdom; it is the Cross. To this world it is foolishness, but to God it is not foolishness. Now, thank God for the message of the Cross.(Adrian Rogers)

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”–1 Pet 5:10

All we have and are, everything we know and feel, comes from “the God of all grace.” We have nothing spiritually good in ourselves; all therefore that we have is the free gift of his hand, and comes from the ever-flowing Fountain of mercy and truth. It will be our mercy, then, as the Lord may enable us, to be ever looking to him, not looking to books, not looking to ministers; these are only instruments, and in themselves but poor instruments. The soul must look through all and above all to “the God of all grace.” The Lord enable you to examine every truth as it is brought before you by the light of God’s Spirit in your heart, to “prove all things, and hold fast that which is good.”

And however deeply you may feel the vileness of your heart, remember this, there is “the God of all grace” to go to. If you feel yourself the vilest of sinners, he suits you the more as “the God of all grace.” If you feel dark, stupid, and barren, it is the greater reason that you should call on “the God of all grace” to revive your drooping soul. If any have lost past enjoyments, and are now “walking in darkness” that may be felt, it is the more reason they should seek “the God of all grace,” that he may supply their needs out of Christ’s fullness, as the covenant Head. Yes, whatever trials, perplexities, and temptations may harass your soul, it is only to open the way for “the God of all grace” to appear. In whatever affliction you may be, it will be your wisdom, as it will be your mercy, to be looking up unto him, that he may comfort your soul; and, turning from man, as Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, commit your case to him.–J C Philpot

When you cross paths with people during the course of the day you never know what is going on in their lives. Not only do we need to take advantage of opportunities to witness when they come, we need to be looking for ways to create opportunities. Here is a good example:

“But thou art rich.” Revelation 2:9

Real saints always feel themselves to be poor sinners. Many of God’s people are really poor in reference to the things of time, for God hath chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him. They are often persecuted, tried, tempted and cast down; so was the church in Smyrna; but Jesus says to her, “THOU ART RICH.” So are all the Lord’s people. Rich by RELATION–God is their Father, and Jesus their elder Brother. Rich by DONATION–Jesus has bequeathed unsearchable riches to them. Rich by PROMISES–the Lord has promised all good things. Rich by FAITH–for he that believeth shall inherit all things. Rich in EXPECTATION–for they look for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Believer, thou art rich; Jesus has willed to thee His righteousness, to justify thee; His blood, to cleanse thee; His Spirit to sanctify thee; His name to procure for thee; His angels to minister unto thee; and His heaven to be thy everlasting habitation. Precious Saviour! I would admire and adore Thy love! O teach me to live out of self on Thy fullness! (James Smith, 1840)