Would you take his place?
Everyone wants justice. From getting a fair wage to the conviction of a criminal, we want justice.
If a person is guilty of murder, they should be punished. If they murdered someone we know, not even the death penalty is sufficient.
But would you take the place of a criminal on death row?
Not just live in his cell for a day or two. But take all the guilt, all the humility, the loss of all your rights, all the abuse – and all the penalty. Even though you didn’t deserve it. Even though you’re the nicest person in the world. Even though your life is worth living.
You know that someday you’ll be put in the electric chair, or given an injection. No more appeals. No chance of pardon. You’ve taken on that person’s identity and everything that comes with it.
Would you take his place?
We might sacrifice our lives for a good person. Stop a bullet. Grab a child from oncoming traffic. Pull someone out of a river.
But for a criminal deserving death? Not likely.
That’s what Jesus did for us.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
We are dirty, rotten sinners. Every last one of us. Nothing we do is good. Everything we think is tainted with selfishness. And there is nothing we can do to change that.
But God, demonstrating His love, sent Jesus to die for us.
And since there’s nothing you can do to change your standing before God, He did it all.
Man of Sorrows! what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
“Full atonement!” can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!Philip P. Bliss
Daily in the Word 