As we continue through the season of Lent and on our journey to Good Friday, we ask one question in the Lenten midweek services: “Who wants Jesus to die?”  During this series we are looking at different people in the passion who want Jesus dead. 

  On Ash Wednesday we talked about the Father wanting Jesus dead.  He wanted the death of His Son because it was only way for us to have eternal life. For the Father, the death of Jesus meant that our sins would be washed away.  In the realm of eternal and perfect judgment, the only way to make atonement for sin was by sacrifice. 

  In a certain sense, when we break the law now, there is sacrifice.  Whether it is jail time, a fine, or community service, there is something we must do to make amends for our actions.  In the same way, because of our sins, because of the breaking of God’s Law, sacrifice must be made for our sins as well.

  On the one hand there is the option of suffering eternal jail time in hell.  Many who have broken God’s Law end there.  Some people try to make atonement on their own, something no one can do because of the inherent sinfulness of our actions apart from Christ.  They try to do enough or believe they have done enough or they believe that they are good enough and do enough good things to warrant salvation.

  Others simply choose not to believe any of it and figure if they don’t believe it, it won’t affect them.  “I don’t believe hell exists, so I don’t worry about it.”  In light of God’s word, that is like saying, “If I don’t believe gravity exists, it won’t affect me,” and then sky-diving without a parachute. It won’t end well.

  As we look at the question for this Lenten season, “Who wants Jesus to die?”, there is one other person who wants Jesus to die.  This person isn’t explicitly a part of the series and wasn’t there in the passion scene like all the others we will talk about.  That person is you.  Because of your sins, and your inability to make atonement for them, each one of us wants, and really needs  Jesus to die for us.

  Because of my sins and yours, I am glad Jesus died for you and me.  As we move through the Lenten season, let us keep in mind the great importance of our Savior’s action on Good Friday.  His death on the cross, His sacrifice, means a clean slate for us and eternal life in heaven.

  If you would like to hear about other people who wanted Jesus to die, midweek services are Thursdays at 11am and 7pm.

  Blessings on your month,

  Pastor Nick Buchholz