Looking to the Cross, Part Two
The word I want to look at today is the word "bear". While this word has many definitions, I want to focus on three:
1) To assume or accept - When Jesus died for us on Calvary's cross, he bore the penalty of our sin. Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death. With His death, Jesus purchased eternal life for us. He died so that we could live. He paid a debt He did not owe, but not only that, He paid it gladly. He subjected Himself to the most horrible death, so that we could live the most extraordinary life. As the old hymn states, "Jesus paid it all; all to Him I owe."
2) To accept or allow oneself to be subjected to, especially without giving way - Jesus' death on Calvary (not to mention the events that occurred before that) was a display of shame and ridicule. I'm angered every time I think of how my Lord was mistreated. Stripped of His garments. Spat upon. Beaten with rods. Ridiculed with words. Set up as a display for all to see. Can you imagine anything more humiliating? That should have been us receiving such treatment. We should have been the ones bearing such shame. But once again, God's great love had other plans. Jesus allowed these men to make a mockery of Him, but He did it gladly, so that we would never have to bear the shame of our sins.
3) To admit of or allow - Through His act of sacrifice, Jesus bore the marks of a guilty man. The nail prints in His hands and feet declared Him a criminal. Even today, He still bears those marks. The sinless Lamb of God bore the marks of the guilty so that we would never have to. For those of us who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, when God looks at us, He sees only righteousness. He doesn't see our mistakes and failures. He doesn't see our guilt. He sees only the blood of Jesus and the nail prints in His hands that declare the price for our sins has been paid.
May we never forget what Jesus bore (and what He is still bearing) so that we might spend eternity with Him. The price has been paid. The sacrifice has been given. Have you accepted what Jesus did for you? Have you made Him Lord and Savior of your life? If not, why not take care of that today? He's done so much for us. It's the least we can do for Him.