Rom 5:6   For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

After I became a Christian I played a Roman soldier in a Passion Play at a local church. This church was pretty large and the producer and director of the play was really into detail. One of the details was stage blood! My job was to crucify Jesus. It was also my job to remove Jesus from the cross, as I was the biggest guy there at 6’ 5” and 225 pounds. 

When I nailed the nails, they had some packets of this stage blood and it splattered all over me. Since my conversion, I have always really really really loved the Lord! I knew it was fake blood, but at another level, this was a spiritual experience for me. It broke my heart to drive the nails into my Jesus! 

Photo by Derek. G Jeter )

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

What was the joy that was set before Jesus? There may be more than two answers to this question, but I believe these to be the main two:

1. The main joy for Jesus was to do the will of the Heavenly Father
2. You and I having the opportunity to restored fellowship with the Father, Son amd Holy Spirit.

Luk 23:33  And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Forgive them!

This prayer! This declaration! Forgive them! Speaking of the Roman soldier who drove the nails in His hands. He was without sin. The perfect Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world.

Some bible scholars say it was the moment the soldier was driving the spikes in His hands and feet, Jesus said, “Father forgive them!”

This declaration was also made for every person that will call on the Name of Jesus! Jesus was saying, Father forgive (put your name here). Father forgive Daddy William! 

Point: There is not a universal salvation! Not everyone takes advantage of what Jesus did for all of mankind. Nobody wants you in heaven more than God Himself! He wanted it so bad and love you so much He offered Himself in our place. It is our choice to believe, repent and experience Life in Christ. 

Mat 26:53  Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus in the garden, He could have called 12 legions of angels to come to His rescue. Jesus said He would lay down His life and take it up again. So in a way, nobody killed Jesus, but also in a way, we all did! 

Isa 53:4  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

People look at me like I am crazy when I say this. God is not looking for good people.....because there are none!

There plenty of good people by earthy standards. Some atheists and many from every sort of religion producing outwardly righteous and moral people. But every last person fails the test of a Holy God. This God is a consuming fire and dwells in unapproachabke light. In Him is no darkness at all. He is Holy and His requiremeat is a Holy people. 

After Adam sinned, there was only ONE person Who fulfilled all of the requirements of the Holy One. Jesus!

Otherwkse there are none righteous, no not one! Just think of the first command. Everyone but Jesus has broken that one. He is the only One Who loved the Father in unbroken fellowship, all of His days.

What God is looking for is Faith in His Son! He is looking for faith in the finished Work of Jesus on the cross of Golgotha. 

None of our religious practices please God! If we could be saved by being a good person, Jesus did not have to die. But none of us is good enough! But Jesus is! We must be born again John 3:3.

We must believe unto salvation. We believe until the wholeness, holiness, righteousness of Christ transforms our lives. 

As I left the stage and the blood of Jesus was all over me, it became clearer than ever, my sins put Jesus on the cross, but it was His love for me, that kept Him there. When He said, Father, forgice them. He also meant it for me.

Joh 3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Mar 16:16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

1Ti 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;