“[Jesus] committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."
- 1 Peter 2:22-25

Jesus Christ came to serve as our substitute for our salvation. Throughout his life on earth, he completely obeyed God's law. As the apostle Peter describes here: he "committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly." Furthermore, in his death on the cross, Jesus died in our place for our sins: "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree." Theologians have summarized these aspects of his work as both his active and passive obedience to God the Father.

Yet why would Jesus do all of this? Certainly, he was not obligated to save anyone. As the eternal Son of God, he didn't have to humiliate himself for our salvation. So why did he do it? Peter goes on to explain: "that we might die to sin and live to righteousness." So Jesus did all of this so that you and I might die to the power and presence of sin in our everyday lives and begin to live just lives before God. Not just that, but he explains that "by his wounds you have been healed." It is through the means of the wounding of Jesus on the cross, that we who believe receive healing. What kind of healing is this? He writes, "for you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." So through his wounds, we who believe are healed from our straying and so return to God. Have you returned to God from your straying through Jesus Christ? Don't wait a minute longer. He promises to heal you through his wounds if you'll turn to him by faith. 

For Jesus,
Pastor Mark