You knew he would betray you; you looked in his eyes and knew.                            

Yet you walked on, said nothing and died for him.

You looked in her heart and saw the sin residing there.

Yet you walked on and died for her.

You saw the evil in Cain’s heart, you knew of the doubt in Thomas’ heart.

But you still gave your life.

How can you know of the profound evil in the world, of your world, your Father’s world and the world of today?

And yet choose to lay down your life.

How could you look in Peter’s eyes day after day, knowing that in your hours of need, he would back away from you as if your love for each other had never existed?

How could you walk with Judas, knowing what he would choose to do, yet still have affection for the man, still eat and pray with him knowing he would betray you?

How could you willingly take beatings knowing that evil men would dole out worse to innocents?

How could you suffer the humiliation knowing that these people you were dying for would commit worse acts against each other?

How could you walk through the taunting crowds ignoring their words just to die for those same people?

How could you walk side by side with these men and women, teaching them day after day, knowing that a cross awaited you in the end?

Knowing that your death, though meaningful to some, would not change the tide of evil in the world

Was it worth it?  Do you look down now and wonder?

               It’s so easy to look at those who try so hard to be good and follow in Christ’s footsteps.  It’s so easy to see those and to understand why Christ accepted his death on a cross.  But then you have to remember, he didn’t just die for those who try.  He also died for those who do not try and who may never try.  He died for rapists. He died for child molesters.  He died for Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin.  He died for mass murderers.  He died for wife-beaters.  He died for gangsters.  He died for atheists.  He died for us all.

               Christ died for all people on earth.  He died to offer the chance for ALL sinners to someday be in His presence.  He died to offer redemption to all.

               Christ allowed himself to be painfully, excruciatingly, harshly nailed to a cross.  He did this knowing exactly the people who would one day walk this earth. He saw the man who would stalk and hurt a child.  He saw the man who would rise to power and exterminate millions.  He saw the woman who would kill her babies to garner personal attention.  He saw these and he died for them.  How great is His love for them and for us.  How much He loves us to know not only what we are capable of, but what humanity would do and still accept His death on a cross.

               When we look from one side to another while sitting in our pews on Sundays, we understand that Christ died for these folks.  But what about the bigger picture?  He died for those who would never desire redemption; for those who would never seek redemption.  He knew the hearts of the most evil beings ever born or yet to be born. He saw the evil.  He saw their actions which had yet to take place.  He saw that they would walk in darkness for their entire lives.  Yet Jesus died for them too.  He died if only to offer them the chance, the opportunity, just in case their desires ever turned toward him.  If they had a momentary desire to walk in His presence, he was offering them this chance.

               His sacrifice for those who would be the vilest creatures on earth seems hard to imagine.  But His love was greater than their evil.  His love can truly conquer the darkest night.  How great was His love that he could want to save all of us.  His suffering was not just for those who strive to be good but for those whose selfishness knows no bounds.  He suffered for them too. 

               How strange to think that I can be angry with someone who cuts me off in traffic; that I can be mad at the kids when they don’t complete their chores; that I can get frustrated when things don’t go my way.  And yet our Savior could see the wickedness of the world around him and the evil things still to come and choose to accept the cross willingly, lovingly.