From Calvary to Victory: The Purpose Behind the Cross

“And whatsoever you do, do it heartily – put in your very best effort – as something done for the Lord, and not for men” (Colossians 3:23).

Welcome back dear student, attitude is everything. It’s what makes or breaks life. Often, we encounter people with amazing, positive attitudes even through great difficulties, and they inspire us! Life passes by in a flurry of ordinary moments. Only in seeing the courage of others enduring adversity do we realise how good we really have it. Regular everyday happenings often get written off as boring and mundane – but this is a trap, for it is in the routine familiarities that we experience the truth about who we are, and all we have. It these very simplest of things that strike people the hardest when circumstances change after loss.

Next week brings Passover, leading into Resurrection Sunday. The Lord Jesus ministered for over three years, training up His disciples in the knowledge of the Word of God, the Love of God, and demonstrating the miracle working Power of God. Now He was finally going to fulfil - the plans of God. Up to that point Salvation was impossible for any man to achieve in his own strength, because of sin. “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s Glorious standard” (Romans 3:23 NLT).

All of us sin, no matter how good or nice we are. But Jesus never sinned. He demonstrated graciously to His followers how to walk in Truth, and find one’s purpose and make life meaningful, and fruitful (John 15:1-17).

Isaiah had prophesied about the promised Messiah over seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus, that the Saviour would serve, suffer for, and save the underserving. That He would grow up in obscurity without notions or grandeur. Yet He was God’s Only Begotten Son. This is what the ‘learned ones’ missed when Jesus did arrive. They were looking for opulence and instead met the humble King of all kings (Matthew 12:16-20).

Some like to portray Jesus as being poor, weak, and helpless. He was none of those things. Read your Bible and find out the Truth friend. Meek is not weak. Sandals and a donkey weren’t poor in the context of that time. Jesus' robe that the soldiers fought over after His crucifixion was a handmade woven garment (John 19:23-24). And Jesus was not helpless. If He wanted to, Jesus could’ve called for battalions of angels to come rescue Him, and it would’ve been all over for mankind (Matthew 26:53-56). But Jesus finished what He came for – to pay for our sins, to break curse and failure, to deliver us from fear, death, the devil, and hell, and to restore us to our Heavenly Father – washed clean by His sinless Blood sacrifice (Isaiah 53:6-9).

“Yet it was our weaknesses and pains that He carried. It was our sorrows and griefs that weighed Him down. We thought His troubles were a punishment from God…for His own sins! But He was pierced for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement needful for our peace was upon Him. He was whipped and beaten so we could be made whole - and by His stripes we were healed” (Isaiah 53:1-5).

When the followers of Jesus, including His mother, watched His brutal death, everything seemed lost. But God’s plan was to crush Him (Isaiah 53:10-12). Jesus knew He was going to suffer – He had studied the Word of God since childhood. He understood His assignment. Only Jesus alone was able to complete the task and bring many to Glory, by giving His life as a one-time Love offering for all.

Calvary became a place of Forgiveness, Redemption, Salvation, Healing, Restoration, and Reconciliation.

All in a day’s work for Messiah Jesus - the Victor Who rose from the ashes to bring a new era for mankind - Grace! He did it all unto God, not man.

No one else’s opinion mattered - only the audience of One.