Jesus Rolls Doubles

I stand amazed today at what it is that Jesus did for us. I have been reading through John Piper's book 50 Reasons Jesus Came to Die, and some of the chapters I have read today really hit home.

Think about this: God creates people. He gives you everything we would ever want and more. Yet, we screw it up. We sin- every last one of us. We have broken the law. Just like on Earth, when one breaks the law, they must go to court. If found guilty, one must go to jail. Here's a hint: we're all guilty.

Only one person hasn't broken the law: Jesus (who also happens to be God and human, simultaneously; that means he was tempted to break the law just like us, and it's His law!). Blameless, innocent Jesus has volunteered to be our lawyer, since we certainly cannot defend ourselves. Satan, warden of the prison, is licking his chops for another inmate on an eternity sentence. The evidence is presented before God the Father, who is the judge. We are looking doomed. We are declared guilty.

Then, out of no where, our innocent lawyer steps forward and says "I will take their punishment." WHAT?!

Jesus takes our sentence, and because He is innocent, we trade our records. We are marked innocent and Christ is branded as the law-breaker.

But wait! Since He is also God, Jesus rises again, breaks from the grips of jail and returns to us. The marks from His death sentence are evidence of His suffering. We are spared from the death penalty and eternity in jail. How great is that!?

This contrasts strongly with Islam. The interaction between God and man is not the type where God would die in His people's place. In fact, the entire point of Islam is that since people are rebellious to God and His Creation, we should all submit. I agree; doing God's Will is certainly a good thing. However, the Muslims believe that the only way to acheieve salvation is through the submission we do on Earth. Thus, the only way to Heaven is through our works here on Earth. This is directly in conflict with the words of the apostle Paul.

8 For by grace [freely given, unmerited favor and love from God]you are saved through faith, and this is not fromyourselves; it is God's gift- 9 not from works, so that no one can boast. -Ephesians 2:8-9, Holman Christian Standard Bible

See? We did nothing to deserve this. It's amazing that we could rebel as such, only to have God allow Himself to die for us! No other religion can claim their God not only would, but did, die for them. It's blasphemous, radical, and real. What are you doing today to prove how lucky you are? What are you doing to rejoice in the love of a blameless Savior who died so you wouldn't be punished for your sins? What are you doing to thank your own "Get Out of Jail Free Card?"