Good Friday

"God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21

This is my favorite verse. It is perfect for Good Friday.

"God made Him who had no sin . . . "

This means Jesus. Jesus lived a perfect life. Not one error. Not one mess-up. Not one misstep. Not one choice, thought, word that was at all opposed to God. Perfect.

" . . . to be sin for us . . . "

The exchange. I don't live a perfect life. Neither do you. Nobody has. But, on the cross, Jesus took on my sin, your sin, everybody's sin. And it was costly, this isn't about a beating, this isn't about a crown of thorns, this isn't even about a crucifixion. Those things are all horrible, but the worst thing that happened to Jesus on Good Friday is seen in Mark 15:34 when Jesus cries out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" As he quotes Psalm 22, the worst thing that happens to Jesus on Good Friday is taking place. Jesus', God the Son's, very relationship with God the Father is changing. By taking on our sin, Jesus is undergoing a separation from the Father. He is experiencing the total removal of God's presence and fellowship. No matter who you are, what you believe, where you're at, you have never experienced something that horrible. But, Jesus takes that on for us.

" . . . so that in Him . . . "

A choice. We can choose, by faith, to take this exchange and in doing so, be "in Him." We can be covered by Him.

" . . . we might become the righteousness of God."

The craziest thing in the Bible. If we make that choice, we are in Him and if we are in Him, be become like Christ meaning perfect, blameless, spotless, beyond condemnation, new creation, and righteous. The 100% perfection of Christ's choices, decisions, thoughts, and actions (His righteousness) is credited to us.

Crazy.

Good Friday.