Every year, movies are released that showcase heroes. The movies follow a similar plot: A situation spirals out of control. Hope is fading and the odds of solving the problem are shrinking. Then, at just the right time, a hero shows up to save the day.
The truth of our situation is that we need a hero. We have taken a detour off of God’s path. We have hit the wall. We don’t have the ability to make things right again. We deserve to receive God’s justice. We need a hero to show up and save us.
God sent His Son, Jesus.
When there was no hope, and at just the right time, God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to be the hero we need (Romans 5.6). Even though Jesus is fully divine in His nature, He set aside His glory to be born as a baby (Philippians 2.6-8).
Jesus grew up like us. He experienced the ups and downs of life like us. Yet, unlike us, Jesus did not sin (Hebrews 4.15). He lived the life we were meant to live, enjoying His Father’s presence every step of the way.
Because Jesus never sinned, He was able to step in as a substitute for us. He was able to pay the penalty for our sin. And that’s exactly what He did. In His ultimate act of love, Jesus was crucified. He didn’t die for His own sin; He was without sin. He took our sin upon Himself and died for it (2 Corinthians 5.21). On the cross, Jesus bore our sins and suffered God’s wrath against sin in His own body.
At the end of His life, as Jesus hung on the cross, He cried out “Tetelestai!” John 19.30 ESV. It’s a word that means, “it is complete” or “paid in full.” Jesus paid our penalty in full.
Jesus conquered sin and death.
Though Romans 6.23 NLT begins, “For the wages of sin is death…” it ends by declaring a more hopeful truth: “but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus did what our own attempts at doing better could never do. He conquered sin and death, and made a way for us to get back to God.
1 Peter 3.18 NLT explains that, “Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God.” Because of what Jesus did on the cross, we can be forgiven and set free. He paved a way for us to start again on God’s path of life.
But why would He do that? Why would Jesus go to such great lengths to rescue us? The answer comes down to one word: love. John 3.16 NIV says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” That’s a real hero! More importantly, that’s real love.
This blog originally appeared at: Jesus is Our Hero – discipleFIRST features an excerpt from one of their Student Series books, Walk With God.