Although we should never lose sight of what Jesus has done for us, we are reminded this time of year as we approach Easter, of the sacrifice He paid so we could have eternal life with God. So I wonder if you’ve ever thought about this: Do you see Jesus as a martyr or substitute?
A martyr is one who willingly suffers death or endures great suffering on behalf of any belief, principle, or cause. But a substitute is one who takes the place of another.
Certainly, Jesus paid a great price on behalf of mankind. The Bible is very clear that Jesus suffered:
“But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation” (Luke 17:25).
“But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled” (Acts 3:18).
I want you to understand that Jesus is much more than just a martyr–one who died for a great cause.
Jesus died for YOU. But more than that, He TOOK YOUR PLACE. A martyr dies willingly (which Jesus did); but a substitute trades places with another.
In other words, if you can see Jesus as your substitute, then you can receive all that was exchanged on your behalf:
He became sin so you could be made RIGHTEOUS (2 Corinthians 5:21).
He became poor so you could be made RICH (2 Corinthians 8:9).
He became weak so you could be made STRONG (2 Corinthians 12:10).
He received death so you could have LIFE (John 5:24).
On the other hand, as grateful as we are that Jesus died for us, if we only see Him as a martyr, then we’ll never walk in the fullness of what He paid for us to have. JESUS DESIRED FOR YOU AND I TO HAVE LIFE, AND LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY! He said in John 10:10, “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of” (MSG)!
It’s good to be reminded that Jesus took our sins upon Himself, receiving what rightfully was ours to pay. But don’t leave Him on the cross. Begin to see Him off the cross, at the right hand of the Father, having obtained everything you and I need to live victoriously!
So think about it: Is Jesus your MARTYR or your SUBSTITUTE?
