October 17: Isaiah 53:4-6
 
Key Verse: Isaiah 53:6
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
 
Devotion:
How many times have you stopped to think about why Jesus went to the cross? And who made Him do it? Well, as these verses state, we sometimes think it was God who put Jesus on the cross and God who was punishing Jesus because of our sins... but that is just the way we think and is not what happened!
 
Despite what we think, Jesus went to the cross because He wanted to be able to be our sacrifice. He wanted to take on the burden of our sins. Before He was taken to be on the cross, He pleaded with God His Father, not to let Him off, but to see if there was any other way. Does this mean God said it had to be done? I believe Jesus was pleading with God because He knew the pain and anguish we would feel when we realised the truth!
 
I believe Jesus knew exactly what He was doing when He took Himself to the cross and gave up His own life for our sakes. I believe He knew what was going to happen to Him, but He also continued to step forward, knowing the pain and anguish He would go through so we would not have to! He did this so we could have peace in our hearts!
 
We are the ones who have done silly things. We are the ones who have sinned against God, against His people and against ourselves. We are the ones who should be facing the desperate things Jesus went through on the cross – but Jesus made the choice to take on the punishment for everything we are going to do. Because He loves us!
 
Points to Ponder:
Have you asked Christ to forgive you today?
 
Will you step forward to help someone else out today?