Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but He died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but He was raised to life in the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:18NLT

From the journal . . . . Easter 1991

Lord, if given the choice, I doubt that I would willingly take a great consequence for someone else’s sin. Maybe for my kids or loved ones, but my natural instinct is to avoid the unpleasant. Lord, help me to be a living sacrifice to love others like You do. I can’t necessarily relieve anyone else of consequences, but I can love in humility.  

And I Believe God Said:

Go forth in life, always reaching upward, but never forgetting from where you came.  I am the resurrection and the life.  I am your resurrection. Repent of sin.  Join with Me in the resurrection.  You don’t need to stay in the grave.  Recognize the death of your soul.  Sin kills, but I resurrect.  Repent and live.  Rejoice in My victory.  For Me and for you.  Rejoice in Our resurrection.

John 11: 25-26 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in Me will live, even after dying. ²⁶ Everyone who lives in Me and believes in Me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”
²⁷ “Yes, Lord,” she told Him. “I have always believed You are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.”

 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. ²¹ So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:20. NLT

When I wrote this entry, I was comparing myself to Jesus in a desire to be more like Him. I was doubting that I would or even could take on the consequences for someone else’s sin, which of course is exactly what Christ did for each of us. Which of course is something ONLY the perfect One could do.

It seems to me that the Lord ignored my wondering.  However, I think His answer was a resounding “No! You certainly can’t and shouldn’t try.” He emphasized moving forward and, I assume, strive to be more like Him while also recognizing my sinful nature, which disqualifies me from any “savior” role of any kind.

I thought I was going to talk about us being living sacrifices for others, but Easter is about Him and His sacrifice, not about me.  My role is to receive His sacrifice and get the heck outta that grave!!!