Sacrifice

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV

Merriam-Webster defines the word sacrifice as destruction or surrender of something for the sake of something else. We have entered the Lenten season, a time of sacrifice and remembrance. The words of Isaac Watts come to mind, “When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died, my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride”. How great a sacrifice when we reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

• God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[i] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished. Romans 3:25 NIV

• And walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:2 NIV

• He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2 NIV

I think there are some questions we must wrestle with in relation of the sacrifice: What does the sacrifice mean to us? What are we called to sacrifice today? How do we honor the Savior’s sacrifice today and beyond?