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Day 24: Cross

Read: John 19:17-30

Think: The entire culmination of Jesus’ 33-years on Earth was this moment. It seems pretty anti-climactic. Thousands of years of waiting for the Savior and now He dies? We may be tempted to think that maybe He was only a man and our hope for a Savior was just wishful thinking, but what Jesus did that day on Golgotha was all a part of God’s plan. 1 Peter 3:18 (NIV) says, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” Hebrews 12:2 (NLT) says “Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.” Reflect on how Jesus chose death on the cross for you.

Hope: What we need most in this life is forgiveness. All of us were far away from God in our selfishness, greed, hatred, and lust. Our sins separated us from Him in His perfection. But God’s love for us was so strong that He was willing to sacrifice Himself in our place. He took the punishment we deserve so that we could be close again. That’s what Jesus really did when He died. Your hope is that no matter what you’ve done, how bad it seems, or how long you’ve strayed, Jesus has taken away your sins and made you clean. 

Pray: Jesus, thank you for taking the punishment that I deserved and giving me complete forgiveness. Thank you that the waiting is over, and Hope has come!

Apply: Think about how you can use the things you got for Christmas to bless others. Make a list.