“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 NIV
As prophesized by Isaiah in the Old Testament: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 NIV, Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem, Judah. “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of the great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger’. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’” Luke 2:8-14 NIV.
Not much is known about Jesus’ early years. Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, who was Jesus’ cousin. “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lightning on him. And a voice came from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am pleased.’” Matthew 3:16-17 NIV.
Jesus Christ is the son of God. “They all asked, ‘Are you then the Son of God?’ He replied, “You are right in saying I am.’” Luke:22:70 NIV. Jesus is God come to earth in human form to be crucified and die for our sins. “So Pilate asked Jesus, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ ‘Yes it is as you say,’ Jesus replied.” Luke 23:3 NIV.
Jesus was crucified for our sins. In the Old Testament, you atoned for your sins in many different ways. You would offer the Lord burnt offerings, sacrifice bulls and goats. “The Lord called Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting. He said, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them’: ‘When any of you brings an offering to the Lord, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.’” Leviticus 1:1-2 NIV. “The Lord said to Moses ‘Say to the Israelites: ‘When anyone sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands – If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring the Lord a young bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin that he has committed.’” Leviticus 4:1-3 NIV. These are just some examples of the many offerings that you were used in the Old Testament for atonement. The Lord commanded Moses to tell the Israelites about a Day of Atonement, in which the Jews would offer to the Lord different offerings to atone for the sins that they had committed during the year. “’This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites.’ And it was done as the Lord commanded Moses.” Leviticus 16:34 NIV. Instead of conforming to the Law of God, the Israelites would go against God and worship other gods instead of their Lord. This angered God, and he sent many prophets to tell the Israelites that he was not pleased. “I will pronounce my judgments on my people because their wickedness in forsaking me, in burning incense to other gods and worshiping what their hands have made.” Jeremiah 1:16 NIV.
“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.” John 3:16 NIV. Jesus came to earth as the way to atone for our sins. “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming-not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once and for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore when Christ came into the world, he said: ‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased.’” Hebrews 10:1-6 NIV.
Jesus is the only way to God. “Thomas said to him, ‘Lord we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:5-6 NIV.
Jesus had to be crucified. His death brought the Holy Spirit to believers. “’If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in the father, and you are in me, and I am in you.’” John 14:15-20 NIV.
To receive the promise of the Holy Spirit, you must: realize that you are a sinner, repent of your sins, and accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. You can start by saying the following prayer: Dear God, I admit that I am a sinner. I admit that I cannot live by your laws. I have not loved you with all of my heart. I am truly sorry. I have accepted your Son Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. I ask that my sins be washed away and that you fill me with your Spirit. I ask these things in Jesus’ name.
Amen.