The Ultimate Sacrifice

One of my favourite hymns, Jesus Paid It All, has had a profound effect on me, whether I have sung it in church, sung it in a choir, or listened to it on my iPod.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
       – Elvina M. Hall

The beautiful words never fail to stir my spirit, leading me to the foot of Golgotha/Calvary where Jesus of Nazareth hangs with two known criminals. These offenders could have been any one of us. So, I ask myself, why did the sinless Son of God leave His glorious throne in heaven to take my sin upon Himself?

In searching the Scriptures, the clue to this important event was foreshadowed thousands of years before the Messiah came to give His life as a ransom for many. In the Old Testament sacrificial system, the people of Israel were instructed by God to offer an acceptable animal, free of defect, as atonement for sin. But in the New Testament, we see John the Baptist pointing the way to the Saviour, proclaiming, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29b NASB)

John's reference to Jesus as the Lamb of God suggests that He was the fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrificial system. Thus, God, in His infinite wisdom, prepared a greater, more valuable sacrifice by sending His Son to die in our place. This, I believe was the ultimate sacrifice.

Hebrews 7:26-28 – For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever. (NASB)

Therefore, we have obtained eternal redemption through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:21 – For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. (NLT)

Because of this declaration, we can sing the final verse of Jesus Paid It All with reassurance and gratitude for our Saviour, Jesus Christ:

And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I'll lay my trophies down,
All down at Jesus' feet.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He is worthy to be praised. May we sing with the myriads of angels, living creatures, and the elders in heaven, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing." (Revelation 5:12 NASB) In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.