Why is the cross so important? As time passes, we forget how
important the cross is. What really happened on that cross that
should bring us to our knees? Everything goes back to the cross.
Why? Because that’s where God shows us how much He loves us.
Jesus was fully human and fully God. What a combination. He need-
ed to eat and sleep because He was human but is also part of the
Holy Trinity. He is the son God gave us to show us His love.

Jesus never talked like other preachers. Why? Because He was
sent by His Father to share His love with us. In the old testament,
God did miracles through prophets like Elijah and people like Mo-
ses, but He could not save us from the dark side of the world until
Jesus came. God wants to live an eternal life with us. The ones that
love Him, trust and believe in Him. That wouldn’t have happened
without Jesus dying on the cross for our sins.

Jesus went willingly to the cross for us. He knew what was going
to happen. He knew because God showed Him what He would go
through, and He was sweating blood because of it. He went willingly
and fully, knowing He would take on all the world’s sins. Even our
sin two thousand years later.

Crosses today show Jesus with maybe some scrapes and bruises
on Him. But it wasn’t like that. It says in Isaiah 52:14 Just as there
were many who were appalled at Him— His appearance was so
disfigured beyond that of any human being and His form marred
beyond human likeness—

It took me a long time to realize that not acknowledging what
Jesus did for us is like saying, “Don’t worry about me, Lord. I’ll car-
ry my own cross.” Jesus did it willingly, like a lamb to the slaughter.
By NOT acknowledging it, we tell Jesus that what He did wasn’t
enough. We have to do it on our own too. He’s a gentleman and will
step aside and let you try, but it won’t get you where you want to go.

It’s a true gift that He has freely given us; all we have to do to
receive it is to accept Jesus Christ into our hearts as our Lord and
Savior, and then we ask God to forgive our sins. Why ask for for-
giveness? 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just
and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
He wants us to forgive each other and ourselves for things we have
done wrong, knowingly and unknowingly. It says in Matthew 6:14-
15 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your
heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive oth-
ers their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

When Jesus died on the cross, He gave us grace, and we all want
God’s grace and His peace in our lives, but there’s only one way to
get it. By humbling ourselves at the foot of the cross, give thanks to
God for everything He does for us, forgive others for the wrong they
may have done to us, and forgive ourselves for wrong choices we
have made. Receive God’s love and then share it with others. God
knows our hearts, and it’s something we cannot fake. Stop holding
on to any thought that you aren’t good enough to receive it. You are
allowing darkness to feed you the wrong information. You are good
and clean enough because Jesus has made it so by dying on the cross
for you.

It’s worth forgiving to receive God’s love and peace. It says in
John 14: 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not
give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled,
and do not be afraid. There are still people I wish I could ask for
their forgiveness. I may not be able to ask every person, but I can tell
God. He has healed my hurt and forgiven me much. He’s a loving
God, or He wouldn’t have sent Jesus to save us. Let’s not let Him die
in vain. Peace be with you. ~~Barb Novad