Tag Archive | Crucifixion

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 316

Nov13

Day 316 – Reading – Matthew 27 and Mark 15

Read and believe in Jesus!

Matthew 27 and Mark 15 cover the Roman trials of Jesus, His crucifixion, and His burial (as will Luke and John in tomorrow’s study).   It’s good to take a long, hard look at what Jesus endured to secure our salvation. He received the judgment that was rightly ours in God’s sight.  

 

Jesus Delivered to Pilate.

The Jewish Sanhedrin condemned Jesus to death for blasphemy in their three “mock’ trials, because He said -under oath – that He WAS the Son of God.  Under Roman rule, the Jews did not have the power to execute someone.  This fulfilled prophecy, because Jesus was to “hang on a tree” and not be stoned.  And so they bound Jesus and led Him to Governor Pilate.

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Judas Hangs himself

Judas must have been hanging around the courts too, because when he saw that Jesus was actually condemned to death, he changed his mind.  He brought back the thirty pieces of silver he’d earned to betray Jesus. Was he hoping to stop the execution??

Judas: “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood!“

The Jews: “What is that to us?  See to it yourself.“

Judas threw the silver coins into the Temple, and went out and hung himself.

The Jews, picking up the coins, said, “Well, it is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.” Instead, they purchased the potter’s field as a place to bury strangers. (This also fulfilled prophecy. (See Zechariah 11:12-13.)

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Jesus Stands Before Pilate

Pilate asks Jesus a question, right off, because this is a crime against Caesar, and He could give the death sentence the jews wanted.  “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus agreed.  Meanwhile, outside the chief priests and elders were shouting accusations.  Pilate turned to Jesus, “Have You no answer to make?  See how many charges they bring against you?”  But Jesus was silent.

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The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

Pilate went out to the crowds of people gathered outside.  At Passover, it was his custom to release one of his prisoners to them.  Currently, he had one nasty dude, an insurrectionist and a murderer, Barabbas.  Surely, in comparison, the people would want Jesus. 

“Do you want me to release to you the ‘king of the Jews?’  But the Jews had roused the people to call for the criminal.

“Barabbas!”

“Then what should I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?”

“Crucify Him!”

“Why?  What evil has he done?”

“Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”  

The Jewish leaders had done their job well, exiting the crowd who had called Jesus their king less than a week earlier, to now scream for Him to be crucified.

Pilate took a bowl of water, and in the sight of the crowd and leaders, “washed his hands.”  “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.”

And they all answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”

Pilate released Barabbas, had Jesus scourged, and sent Him to be crucified.

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Jesus is Mocked

Pilate’s soldiers sought to have some fun with the prisoner before they took Him to be crucified.  They stripped Jesus, and put on Him a scarlet robe, and a “crown” they twisted from some thorns, handing him a stick as a scepter.   They kneeled before him and mocked him. “Hail, King of the Jews!”  They spit on him and took the stick and beat Him on the head.  Then they stripped Him of the red robe, put His own clothes back on and led Jesus away to be crucified.

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The Crucifixion

As Jesus climbed Golgotha’s hill, the soldiers conscripted a strong man to carry His cross. It was a man from Cyrene, named Simon. 

When they arrived at the ‘Place of the Skull,’ they offered him a drink of drugged wine to dull the pain, but Jesus refused.  They took off his clothes, dividing them among themselves by casting lots.  And they nailed him to the cross.  Over his head, in the place reserved for the list of crimes committed by the prisoner,  they nailed a sign that Pilate sent along.  it said, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews” in three languages.

Two robbers were also crucified with Jesus. They put one on either side of Him.

And then the mocking began. 

“You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself!”

“If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”

“He saved others, but He cannot save Himself!”

“Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.”

“He trust in God; let God deliver Him now.”

And the robbers on either side of Jesus also mocked Him.
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The Death of Jesus

At noon, darkness spread over the whole land for three hours.

About 3:00 p.m., Jesus cried out, “Eli, Eli, Lama sabachthani?” (My God, my God, why have You forsaken me.)

Some thought Jesus was crying out for Elijah and ran to get a sponge so He could speak more.

“No, wait, let’s see whether Elijah will come and take him down.”

Jesus cried out with a loud voice (“It is finished!”) and breathed His last breath, yielding up His Spirit.

THEN! 

—–The veil in the Temple that covered the Most Holy Place was torn in two from the TOP to the Bottom.

—–The earth shook and rocks were split.

—–Tombs were opened and many bodies of the saints were raised, coming out of their tombs.

The Centurion who saw the earthquake and what happened was filled with awe.  “Truly, this was the Son of God!”

There were also women watching from a distance who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him.

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Jesus is Buried.

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, a respected member of the Council, who was also a disciple of Jesus.  He (took courage) and asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Pilate was surprised that Jesus was dead already and asked the Centurion. When he learned Jesus WAS dead, he ordered His body to be given to Joseph.  Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb.  He rolled a great stone to the entrance and went away.  Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there and saw when Joseph put Jesus’ body.

The next day, the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate.

“Sir, we remember how that imposter said, while he was still alive, that after three days, He would rise.  Therefore, order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people He has risen from the dead. The last fraud would be worse than the first.”

Pilate: “Here’s a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.”

So they sealed the stone of the tomb and set a guard.

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 319

Nov15

   Day 319—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and the final day of studying the Gospels.

Day 319 – Luke 24, John 20 – 21 (Thomas restored, Road to Emmaus, Great Commission, Ascension, and John’s epilogue)

Two of Jesus’ followers decided to walk home to Emmaus after the excitement that Sunday. They’d heard the women say the tomb of Jesus was empty, and Mary said she’d even SEEN Jesus.  Peter and John confirmed the tomb was empty, but no one knew what to think.

In the seven-mile walk, these two discussed all that had happened that week concerning Jesus.  Then casually a stranger joined their walk and asked what they were talking about.  They explained, and He said, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all the prophets have spoken. Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into His glory?”  Then He began with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

When they got to their house, the two invited Him inside. When they sat to break bread, Jesus opened their eyes to recognize Him.  Then He vanished.  They were amazed and immediately started back to Jerusalem with the news that they, too, had seen and talked with the risen Jesus.

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The first time Jesus appeared to the disciples in a locked room and ate food with them, Thomas was not there. He vowed he could not believe in the resurrected Lord until he saw and touched Jesus himself. Now, Thomas IS present when Jesus appears. “Thomas, put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”  The astonished Thomas falls to his knees  and worships Him, saying “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus encourages us by saying, “Blessed are those who have NOT seen and yet have believed.”

(John puts in an editorial note here: “These things are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, you may have life in His name.”)

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Jesus once again goes over everything that “was written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms that had to be fulfilled.”  Then, He opened their minds to understand the scriptures.

“Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  YOU are my witnesses of these things.  Behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you (the Holy Spirit). But stay in the city until you are ‘clothed with power from on high.'”

Then, Jesus led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands, He blessed them.  While He blessed them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven.  The disciples worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.

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(John again writes an epilogue to his book in the 21st chapter.)

  He takes us back to when Jesus met some of His disciples in Galilee before he ascended…as He said He would.  There is the story of them deciding to go fishing, catching NO FISH at all, and then catching more than a boatload of fish at Jesus’ suggestion. John and Peter immediately recognize Him and rejoice. They all have a warm breakfast that Jesus made.

But the real reason for this incident is for Peter’s sake.  Remember his boastful attitude and proclamation that he (unlike all the others) would NEVER leave or deny Jesus, only to do just that THREE TIMES that night before the rooster crowed.  Remember his agony of remorse at the realization when Jesus looked at him.  Peter had run off into the darkness (of night and of soul), weeping and distraught.  Later, Jesus made a point to have others tell this disciple in particular that He had risen. (Mark 16:7)

Now, Peter needed to be reinstated in the group as their leader, as well as, in his own eyes.  Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?”  Peter answers ‘yes’ in humility. He is so different.  He knows that in himself, he can do nothing.  It is all Jesus. Three times, Jesus tells him to feed and care for His sheep.  He is still their leader, but he is a servant too, just like Jesus.

Jesus also warns Peter that he will indeed DIE for His sake.  He will be a martyr, but his eyes are to remain on Jesus.  “You follow me!”

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 318

Nov14

     Day 318—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying the New Testament Gospels.

Day 318 – Matthew 28, Mark 16 (Jesus resurrected, guards bribed, Mary Magdalene & women, messages of the angels, Peter & John)

Today’s reading of the resurrection and the following events is similar to tomorrow’s, with different details. Some overlap.

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Early Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene and some other women went to Jesus’ tomb. Their plan was to add spices to the burial garments that Joseph and Nicodemus had hurriedly prepared three days earlier and to anoint the body of Jesus. They discussed who they could get to roll the stone away. (They probably didn’t know about the seal and Roman guard stationed at the tomb.)

However, before they arrived, there was a great earthquake and an angel of the Lord came down and rolled the stone back.  The 16 soldiers “guarding” the site fainted for fear and lay as “dead men.”  When they got up and saw the stone had been moved away, they panicked and went straight to the chief priests in the city. The priests assembled the elders, discussed the problem, and gave the soldiers a sufficient amount of money to spread a false tale – that the disciples had come and stole the body of Jesus. (Right! From 16 trained Roman soldiers!!)  The elders told them they would make it right with Pilate (more bribes), and the soldiers did as they were told.

Meanwhile, the women–also terrified–got instructions from the angel(s). “Don’t be afraid. I know you seek Jesus. He is not here, for He is risen as He said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then QUICKLY, go, tell the disciples–AND PETER–that He is risen.”  So, with both fear and joy, the women ran to where the disciples stayed. Jesus met the ladies on the way with “Greetings!” They fell at his feet to worship Him.

It seems that Mary Magdalene had lingered at the tomb (maybe inside it), so when she saw a man through her tears, she assumed He was the gardener. “Where have you taken my Lord?” she asked.  “Mary…” came Jesus’ voice with love, and she instantly recognized Him and fell at his feet in worship.

Meanwhile, the other women told the disciples what they had seen and heard at the tomb, but the men did not believe. However, John and Peter decided to investigate and ran off to see.  John arrived first, bent down at the door, and peered in. Peter, who arrived seconds later, plunged inside and gazed at the empty shelf where Jesus’s body should have been. Only His folded linen burial clothes were there. John then came inside, and instantly, he believed Jesus had risen.

As they told the other disciples, still waiting in the room in fear, the despondent Thomas said, “Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into His side, I will never believe.”  All ten yet-to-be-courageous men waited in fear, doors locked to see what would happen.

Two others decided to return home to Emmaus.

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Continued tomorrow…

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 317

Nov13

     Day 317—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying the New Testament Gospels.

Day 317 – Luke 23, John 18 – 19 (Judas’ betrayal, Passover/Lord’s Supper, Jesus foretells Peter’s denial, Gethsemane, Arrest and trial, Peter’s denial)

After the Last Supper and Jesus’ private teaching of the disciples and prayer, the group leaves for the Mount of Olives and Gethsemane, where Jesus and His disciples are used to hanging out.  Judas knows this and leads the religious leader and soldiers there so Jesus can be arrested.

When they take Jesus away, the eleven disciples flee in fear. John and then Peter follow the crowd to Caiaphas’s palace, where several mock, illegal trials are held for Jesus. He remains silent even with the false accusations and abuse but finally says that He IS the Son of God, as they say.  Meanwhile, Peter is met with three accusations. At each, he proclaims and swears that he is NOT a follower of Jesus and, in fact, he does not even know Him. A rooster crows, Jesus looks at Peter, and the “brave” disciple runs away in great remorse.  

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Next, Jesus is taken to Pilate, who questions Him extensively about being a “king.”  Jesus says He is a king, but His kingdom is not of this world. Pilate learns Jesus is from Galilee and tries to shirk his duty by sending Him before King Herod, who is also in town. 

Herod is gleeful. He’s wanted to see the “miracle worker” for a long time and hoped to see Jesus do some miracle.  Jesus remains silent before “that fox,” and so Herod arrays Jesus in fine clothing and allows his soldiers to mock and mistreat Him. Then, he sends Jesus back to Pilate. “Herod and Pilate become friends from that day.” 

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Pilate approaches the Jewish leaders and says he finds NO GUILT in Jesus, and neither has Herod. “Therefore, I will punish and release him.”

The crowds, stirred by their leaders, respond, “Away with this man. Release to us, Barabbas! Crucify, crucify Him.”  Finally, Pilate, tired of the matter, washes his hands and tells them to do with Him as they wish. He turns Jesus over to their will.

“Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews,” Pilate had written on a sign to be placed above Jesus’ head, showing the “crime” he was accused of. The Jews objected, but Pilate was firm.

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And so, the procession to Golgotha. Jesus, struggling under the weight of the beam, is helped by a stranger. He speaks warning to some weeping women along the way. Two other criminals follow to be crucified with Him. 

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At the place of The Skull, they nail Jesus to the cross. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

The soldiers cast lots for His garments and His robe as was usual, AND as it was prophesied (Psalm 22:18).

Inspired by Satan, who is still trying to keep Jesus from dying on the cross (and ending his power over mankind), people taunt Jesus to come down from the cross to save Himself…. IF HE IS THE CHRIST.

The criminals beside Jesus mock Him, too, but then one of them turns, repents, and asks Jesus to “remember him in His kingdom.”  “Truly, I say to you, today, you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Standing near Jesus’ cross were His mother, Mary, with three other women, and John.  “Woman, behold your son!” Jesus said to her. To John, indicating His mother, He said, “Behold your mother!”  And from then on, John took her into his own home. 

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At noon, a gloomy darkness covered the land until 3:00pm and Jesus cried out, Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? (My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?)  Spectators thought Jesus was asking for Elijah and said, “Wait, let’s see if Elijah comes.”

With a parched mouth, Jesus rasped, “I thirst.” They dipped a sponge into some sour wine (vinegar) and held it to His mouth. Moisture returned, and He said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”  And with a final breath, Jesus cried aloud, “It is finished!”  And. He. Died. (Satan, YOU LOSE!!)

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A great earthquake shook the earth and split rocks. Tombs were opened, and saints walked about. AND THE CURTAIN IN THE TEMPLE WHICH SEPARATED THE HOLY PLACE FROM THE MOST HOLY PLACE….TORE IN TWO FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP! (Opening the way for all people to approach God through His blood/death.)

“Truly, this man was the Son of God!” cried the Centurion overseeing the crucifixion. 

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Ever suspicious and worried about their own status, the Jews went to Pilate and asked that the crucified men’s legs be broken to hurry on their deaths. They needed the bodies DOWN before the sun went down and the Sabbath began.  A soldier did the deed, and the two criminals soon died. But when he came to Jesus, he saw He was already dead. He thrust his spear into Jesus’ side and saw the blood and clear fluid flowing out, proof of death, so Jesus’ legs were not broken. (This fulfilled Numbers 9:12, Zechariah 12:10)

There was a man, Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Sanhedrin, a good and righteous man who had NOT agreed to the verdict and action by the council, a man looking for the kingdom of God, a secret disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus to bury Him.  After Pilate confirmed that Jesus was indeed dead, he agreed. Joseph and the other secret disciple, Nicodemus, took Jesus’ body down from the cross, wrapped it in linen with many pounds of burial spices, and laid it in Joseph’s newly hewn tomb. He rolled the stone across the opening.  The women who were at the cross followed and noted where Jesus was buried. 

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The next day, the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate. They were worried about the rumors circulating about Jesus’ promise to “rise again” on the third day.  They asked Pilate to make sure the tomb stayed closed by posting a guard to keep the disciples from “stealing his body” and claiming Jesus had been resurrected. (They knew that this circumstance would have been worse than the first.)

Pilate gave them a guard (16) of soldiers. “Go, make it as secure as you can.”  These Jews made sure a Roman seal was put on the stone, sealing it (like an official envelope), and set the Roman guard around it.  There!  Done and dusted!

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AS IF… a wax seal and 16 puny humans could stop the SON of GOD from coming to life!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 316

Nov12

     Day 316—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying the New Testament Gospels.

Day 316 – Matthew 27, Mark 15. (Judas, Pilate, Barabbas, Crucifixion/Death, two thieves, Burial/Tomb)

(Today’s and tomorrow’s readings cover the same events,  so we will look at the details of each.)

The Jews, finished with their three mock trials with their verdict of “blasphemy” (John 18), now deliver Jesus to the Roman authorities to get the death penalty. (The Jews, under Roman rule, were not allowed to impose the death sentence. Also, their means of death would have been stoning, and prophecy stated that Jesus would die cursed “on a tree”

Judas sees Jesus condemned to death, and changes his mind (not his heart in true repentance). He tries to return the 30 pieces of silver he was paid and stop the fiasco, but the Jews do not care for him and refuse.  He throws the money at them, then goes out and hangs himself.  They take the “blood money” and buy a burial ground for strangers.

“Are you the King of the Jews?” Pilate asks Jesus.

“You have said so.” (In other words, yes.)

(Luke 23 here tells how Pilate, trying to get out of his responsibility, sends Jesus to Herod. Herod sends him back.)  (John 18 tells of Pilate’s extended conversation with Jesus about truth and His kingdom that was not of this world, and his attempts to release Him.)

“I find no guilt in Him,” says Pilate. “And according to my tradition, I will release one criminal to the people at Passover.  Do you want Barabbas (a murderer and insurrectionist), or Jesus who is called the Christ (Messiah)?”

“BARRABAS!!” they shouted.

“Then what do you want me to do with Jesus?” he asks in desperation.

“Let Him be crucified!” they shouted.

“Why? What evil has He done?”

“Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

“Okay,” Pilate finally agrees, knowing they wanted Him dead out of envy, “but I am innocent of this man’s blood.”

“His blood be on us and on our children,” shouted the Jews.  (They meant the “guilt” of Jesus’s death, but in reality, Jesus’ blood on us is what saves us in God’s sight.)

So Pilate released Barabbas, scourged Jesus, and delivered Him to be crucified.  It was the soldiers, a whole battalion of them, who scourged Jesus (whipped Him with cords embedded with bits of bone). They also mocked him, putting on a scarlet robe and a crown of thorns and kneeling before him. They struck him about the head with a reed and spit on Him. “Hail, you King of the Jews!” Then they stripped Him of the robe.

They laid the cross piece of the cross on Jesus’ bloody shoulders and compelled Him to carry it up Golgotha’s hill. When He stumbled and fell, they compelled a stranger, in town for the Feast – Simon of Cyrene – to carry it for Him. (Luke 23 tells about Jesus addressing some weeping women along the way.)

They offered a drugged wine for Jesus to drink to dull the pain, but Jesus refused it. Then the nailed Jesus to the cross, hands and feet.

Paid in Full

Jun11

My reading today was from John 19:23-42.

crucifiction

 

“After the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they….”

   Wow, what a “ho-hum!”  Just another day’s work in the life of a Praetorian Roman soldier. 

“…They took His clothes and divided them among themselves, four ways, and gambled (cast lots) for his one-piece tunic.”

     Their eyes were down, intent on His things, greed in their hearts, lusting with their eyes, jovial in their competitiveness… all the while, the Son of God hung above them, bearing their sins and the wrath of God Almighty for their sake.   Unmindful were they of the pain and anguish and the drops of blood silently hitting the dust. It was His life in His blood shed for them, and they didn’t see or understand.

“But standing and watching with pain and sorrow in their hearts were His mother Mary, His aunt Salome, Mary the wife of Clopas, Mary Magdalene… and John, his beloved disciple. ”

Jesus gives the care of His mother (even on the cross, His obedience to the sixth commandment is seen) to John (the disciple who will live the longest; the disciple who will receive the Revelation).  And his disciple took responsibility for Mary for the rest of her life. (None of Jesus’ half-siblings believed him Him at this point.)

“Everything else done, Jesus requests liquid for his parched mouth. Sour wine (vinegar, to squeeze out the last bit of saliva from his glands) is given to Him. Then, with a clear loud voice and a last burst of strength, Jesus cries out, “IT IS FINISHED.”

The sin-debt for mankind is PAID IN FULL!  The reason for his birth as a man and the suffering He endured is fulfilled.  His mission is complete. He has glorified His Father (In three days, the Father will glorify the Son!). 

“And Jesus gave up his spirit.” (He handed it over at his own will. No one took it from Him. HE laid it down. John 10:17-18)

The Jews: “Break their legs so they’ll die quicker. All this must be cleaned up by Sabbath’s start.”

 Such insensitivity! Such cruelty!

The soldiers, done with their job and the haggle over Jesus’ clothes, picked up the mallets used to pound in the spikes (or perhaps the blunt side of their swords) and slammed them into the shins of the two thieves, shattering bone and causing them to put their full weight on their arms, which crushed their lungs and suffocated them to death. At Jesus’s cross they realized He was already dead. (Hadn’t they heard his last words or seen his body slump as He released His spirit?)

A Soldier:  “Let’s make sure. We don’t want to get in trouble for not doing our job.”  He thrust his sword up under Jesus’ rib cage and into his heart. Blood and water came out, proving the Creator of the universe, the perfect Son of God,  the Giver of all life… was already dead.

It was just as Scripture foretold, John explained.  Jesus was lifted up on a tree (crucified) and pierced (with thorns, nails, a sword); and dead by the foreknowledge and will of God. 

crux josephJoseph of Arimathea:  “Pilate, can I take Jesus’ body down and bury it?”

Pilate:  “What? He’s dead already?  Hey, Centurion, is this true?”

Centurion: “Yes, Sir, I pierced His heart  myself. He is dead.” (I saw Him die, felt the earthquake, saw the sun shrouded. Truly this was the Son of God!!)

Pilate:  “Well, okay then. Take the corpse and bury it.”

Joseph and Nicodemus carried Jesus’ dead body to Joseph’s nearby, never-used, garden tomb. They wrapped it in linen cloths, tucking in 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes that Nicodemus had brought. Then rolled a stone across the entrance.

Dead and done.

“But He was wounded for OUR transgressions, he was crushed for OUR iniquities, upon Him was the chastisement (of God) for OUR peace, and with his stripes WE are healed. He has borne OUR griefs and carried OUR sorrows. He was smitten of God, afflicted, stricken…  for OUR  transgressions. He was killed that WE might have eternal life. (from Isaiah 53)

“But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that HE loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (just payment) for our sins.” John 4:6-10 

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

BELIEVE in Him.

Believe the truth – against all understanding – that the sinless Jesus bore your (my) sins on himself, and that the holy, righteous, just Almighty God crushed and killed him for those sins (instead of killing us), that the sacrifice Jesus made was ENOUGH punishment – once and for all time, for all who would believe.

“For God made Jesus, who knew no sin, to BE sin for us, that we might BECOME the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21