What's the Big Deal About the Cross? by Beth Jones

Author:Beth Jones
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781680314465
Publisher: Harrison House Publishers

Chapter Six

Reason #5:

Jesus Was The One With The Blood

Let’s talk about a hero. We live in a culture of celebrity worship. We worship movie stars, athletes, recording artists, musicians, the wealthy, successful and powerful. Why? Because we all want a hero!

We love movies where we can watch the hero’s journey transpire. We love to hear war stories of true heroes. We want every “Once upon a time…” to end with a “happily ever after” and the hero riding off into the sunset.

Unfortunately, in our quest for heroes, we’ve been disappointed by politicians addicted to sex. TV stars in rehab. Sports heroes on steroids. Preachers committing adultery. Leaders living double lives.

It turns out that real hero’s are hard to come by. The general definition of a hero is: a remarkably brave person or someone who has shown great courage or strength of character. The good news is that there is one truly legitimate hero: Jesus Christ.

Jesus is a hero.

Under Pressure

Jesus demonstrated great courage and strength of character when He shed His blood for us on the Cross.

In His veins, Jesus had the eternal blood that would save mankind; but having the blood wasn’t enough! He had to shed that blood. But, that wasn’t enough. Jesus had to live a sinless life so the blood woudn’t be contaminated with sin and Jesus had to get to the Cross where His blood could be shed. And, that’s not all. Throughout his life on earth, Jesus had an enemy.

Satan didn’t understand everything, but he could read the handwriting on the wall and he knew there was something eternally unique about Jesus. He wanted Jesus to blow it and disqualify His blood. Satan tempted Jesus to sin in every way—through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Jesus resisted every temptation to sin and the pressure to quit.

He displayed great bravery, courage and strength of character in the face of extreme pressure—the type of pressure that would make everyone else crack.

Literally, Jesus carried the weight of the world as He overcame these three pressures.

Pressure #1: Temptation to Sin. Jesus, as a man, had to live a sinless life. If Jesus wasn’t successful in living a sinless life, it wouldn’t matter if He went to the cross because His eternal blood would be unacceptable! Jesus had to live a perfect life—as a man! Although He was 100% God in the flesh; the Bible tells us that He set aside His rights as God and became a human being (Philippians 2). Everything He did on earth, He did as a man empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Legally, Jesus had to live a sinless life, as a man. If He ever sinned once, His blood would be disqualified and all humanity would be lost! He was criticized, rejected, persecuted and tempted to sin, just like you and I; but Jesus never sinned.

Pressure #2: Temptation to Live. Jesus had to die and shed His blood. He had to give up His life so that we could have life.

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