February 8 - Matthew 27

The past couple days have been longer chapters but these are the chapters that are the keys to Christianity.  Without Christ's willingness to die for us, we would be lost for eternity.

In today's reading, it seemed like sin was just so huge and so obvious.  Look at the many sins leading right up to and even during Jesus' crucifixion:

• Judas is overwhelmed at his sin and commits suicide
• The crowd calls for Barabbas to be released (a die-hard criminal) rather than Jesus
• The soldiers mock and crucify Jesus
• The robbers insulted him
• God had to turn his face from his beloved Son

Thankfully, God didn't leave us in that awful sinful state.  After Jesus died, notice the immediate freedom:

• We can now approach God's presence personally without need for a high priest
• Death no longer has a hold on us
• Hearts can be changed and people can realize Jesus is who he said he was

May we proclaim to others as the centurion did in Matthew 27:54- “Surely he was (IS) the Son of God!”

Dianne