A Passion for JesusSample

Despite the progress of technology in our generation, one thing remains painfully obvious, we still need a savior. Pain and violence abound. Lust and addictions are rampant. Sickness and disease are widespread. Families are broken. People are divided. The world is full of wars and rumors of wars. Greed and the love of money are still the root of all kinds of evil. And many worship created things rather than the Creator. We’ve traded the glory of God for idols.

When Jesus walked the earth, he didn’t just offer good advice. He never claimed to be a good teacher or a good example. Jesus claimed to be the Savior of the world.

It was the week of Passover and Jesus knew it would be his last. Amidst a crowd in Jerusalem, Jesus cried out, “I did not come to judge the world but to save the world” (John 12:47 ESV).

What does it mean to save the world? In Jesus’ own words, saved is the opposite of judged. Throughout the gospel of John, we see that sin is equated with darkness, “and this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil” (John 3:19 ESV).

Humanity has fallen. We have chosen sin rather than obedience, death rather than life. We who were God’s capstone of creation chose to become his enemies. We committed treason against our true country, rebellion against our King. As a result, we are under God’s judgment.

God does not sweep sin under the rug. He doesn’t look the other way and pretend it never happened. Sin requires a payment. Justice must be satisfied. The reason we feel guilty when we sin is because we are guilty before a righteous Judge. And the wages of sin is death and eternal separation from God in hell. The stakes couldn’t be higher. We need a savior.

In God’s kindness, the true light, which gives light to everyone, was sent into the world. Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:16 ESV).

The university I attended was started in the city of Los Angeles. In the 1930s they placed red neon letters seven feet tall on the roof of their downtown building. This sign became iconic for it’s simple two-word message: Jesus saves.

Jesus saves by paying for our sin. His death was the price. His blood our sacrifice. One man for many, the Son of God for the sons and daughters of men. Now, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

If this is true, what will you do?