On this Good Friday, we reflect on the cross with both gravity and joy — sobered by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, yet rejoicing in what His death accomplished. Before Jesus died, He lived a life of perfect obedience: to qualify as our spotless substitute, to sympathize with our weaknesses, and to become our perfect High Priest.
From there the message works through seven reasons Jesus had to die — to fulfill prophecy, to absorb the wrath of God, to bear our shame, to demonstrate God's love, to break the curse of sin and death, to display the sovereignty of God, and in order that He might rise from the dead. This is the great exchange: Christ takes our sin and shame, and we receive His righteousness and peace. His death was no accident and no plan B, but God's sovereign plan from before time began.
