Saved

This week at Best Week Ever, we are teaching the campers why JESUS IS THE BEST. Thus far, we have seen that Jesus seeks us like the one lost sheep among the 100. We have seen that Jesus loves us even if we feel no one else does. Today, we are teaching the kids that Jesus’ love culminates in a moment of excruciating pain: THE CROSS.

Why was Jesus killed?

On the surface, Jesus was killed because the religious leaders of that day felt attacked by His teachings, miracles, and goodness. This attack was not because Jesus harmed them, but because He was encroaching on their authority, attention, and prestige in the community. Seeking to protect themselves and their way of life, they persuaded the people that Jesus was against the God of Israel, not from Him.

It is a wonder how the people who had memorized large chunks of the Scriptures could miss the blatant revelation of God before their eyes!

It is easy to say Jesus was killed because the religious leaders feared and envied Him, but that is not the whole story.

Why was Jesus killed?

Because God had a plan to save every sinner from before the world was made, and that plan required a perfect sacrifice. How do we know that God had a plan? Because in the third chapter of the Bible, God alludes to His plan of the One who will bring final victory.

God knew that men and women would not be able to stop choosing things that harm and hurt, lead to pain and problems, and are selfish and sinful. God knew we could not stop ourselves from wanting what is not ours. He knew His perfect creation would be marred by selfish sons and daughters.

So, God chose to do the only thing that could be done to satisfy His justice while also redeeming those He loved deeply.

Jesus + the Cross = the only solution.

Jesus died for you because that is the only way God could make a way for you to be with Him. God was willing to allow His Son to suffer, be slandered, and eventually be slain on public display because He loves you. Jesus takes our earned punishment so that we can experience His earned reward.

This is the Good News.

Do you know this?

Do you believe this?

If so, please be praying today for our campers to understand it as we teach it in an age-appropriate manner.

If you do not know this, I would love to share more with you through these devotions, our Sunday service, or, most preferably, a direct conversation. It is the best news you can know!