Day Three: Judgment

CONNECT

Prepare:

• A soiled or dirty shirt or cloth
• A clean shirt or cloth

Take a look at the shirts. These two shirts represent our hearts.

The dirty and soiled cloth represents us when sin is in our hearts. How would you feel if you put on a soiled shirt? Would you feel embarrassed? This is similar to how sin makes us feel. Aside from sin separating us from God, we know in our hearts that we have rebelled against Him and failed to obey Him. We are embarrassed to come to God. But God loves us so much that He made a plan so that we can be like the clean shirt. Someone took our dirty shirt and gave us a clean shirt so that there is no more guilt and shame, and we can draw near to God.

Let’s take a look at what the Bible says.

READ THE WORD

Have you ever done something wrong? Maybe you got into a fight, or maybe you cheated on a test, and you got caught. Imagine if, instead of getting punished for your actions, someone else who did nothing wrong says he or she will take your place and receive the punishment instead.

What a great friend, right? That’s exactly what Jesus did for us on the cross.

Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But—when God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. Titus 3:3–7 (NLT)

God is so good and kind! He gave His own life in exchange for ours while we were still sinners.

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. Romans 5:7–8

God’s standard is higher than ours. He is holy, which means that even a little sin cannot be near Him. He is just, so He cannot let sin go unpunished. But God is also merciful. That’s why God sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins. He was the only sacrifice acceptable in God’s eyes because He is pure and holy. Our good works and our lives could never be enough to pay for the penalty for our sins.

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

Jesus decided to take on the judgment that we deserved. He paid it all. He took all the punishments for our sins. The Father forsook Him by allowing Him to die at the hands of sinful men.

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Mark 15:34

“For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matthew 12:40

Because Jesus is God and lived a sinless life, He rose from the dead and is victorious over sin and death. Now, because of what Jesus did on the cross, we have a life of freedom through faith in Him.

HUDDLE

Parents to Kids

2–6 years old

• Why did Jesus die on the cross?
• What does Isaiah 53:5 say?

7–12 years old

• Why do you think Jesus had to die on the cross?
• Knowing Jesus's suffering, do you realize the depth of God’s love and mercy for you?

Kids to Parents

• Share your understanding of God’s love to your children.

Jesus suffered a lot when He took our place on the cross, but He did it because of His love for us. May this realization change the way we live our lives, and may we always keep our eyes on the cross.

PRAY

Dear God, thank You for sending Jesus to pay the price for my sins. Thank You that I never have to be alone because Jesus paid the price for me. I want to have a relationship with You, God. Please reveal Yourself to me. Jesus, I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and Friend. Amen.

DISCOVER

Did you know that Jesus historically fulfilled over 300 prophecies about Himself? Most of these prophecies were given hundreds of years before Jesus was born. Some scholars believe that 29 of them were fulfilled during the events of the cross.