Cross | Pardon
The cross is God’s forgiveness for sinful people. The cross means substitution—his life for your life. It means justification—justice is attained by his sacrifice in your place and for your sins. It means forgiveness, that what you deserve for your offenses has been taken on by another.
The gospel as pardon is thrilling news for those who are overwhelmed with guilt. This is gospel for those who are tortured with shame. For those who are nagged by conviction. For those who feel dirty over their thoughts, words, or deeds. For those who feel that there is no way that a good God could love a bad person. For those who feel that every bad thing that happens is God punishing for the bad things they’ve done. The cross: God’s pardon for us.
Invocation
Make the sign of the cross and say,
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation Prayer
“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you” (Psalm 143:8).
Jesus came that we might receive pardon and forgiveness. Our sins haunt us with guilt and shame. We confess that we too often cower in fear instead of living in joy. John writes, “There is no fear in love…for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love” (John 4:18).
Consider your sin and fear this day: Fear of not being good enough, pretty enough, or productive enough.
Now consider the pardon of the cross of Christ: “In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins” (I John 4:10). God’s love is proven to you in sacrifice. Wood and nails, sweat and blood, pain and a last breath. By the death and resurrection of Jesus, fear is confronted and cast out. With no conditions or strings attached, you are loved by God!
Word
“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God” (Isaiah 40:1).
Meditation
“With Strength” by Susan Senechal
Oh the holiday season–how do I dread thee? I know it’s supposed to be “the most wonderful time of the year,” but to be honest, beyond the tinsel and glitter and lights, it fills me with anxiety. So many stressors: to plan the perfect party, to buy the perfect gifts, to make sure my home is beautifully decorated and that everyone around me experiences joy to their world. I just cannot do it. I fail miserably (or maybe I fail very well.) I become frustrated, agitated, short-tempered. There’s very little jolly left in this elf by the end of the day.
And to be honest, these stressors are present every day of the year. I fall short of the expectations of others, and myself. I lose my temper. I say and do things that I shouldn’t, and I don’t say and do things that I should. I miss the mark. I fall short. I sin. And it all weighs me down.
So, wow! Do I love the words of Isaiah 40! Do yourself a favor and read it. Then read it again. Its first word gives me exactly what I need today and every day during the hectic holiday season–and in fact, every day of the year: Comfort.
“Comfort.” Derived from the Latin, it means “with strength.” And it is God’s word through Isaiah to us: “comfort…with strength; have strength; be strong. Not a command that we need to do, but a gift we have been given. “Here,” God says, “take my strength…your hard service has been completed, your sin has been paid for…every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low, the rough ground made level.”
The sin, the guilt, the shame has all been removed. When that baby who was born in the manger went to the cross to pay the sacrifice for our sins, he freed us from all of it. The struggle is over, the victory won. We have strength for our days because of the Jesus of Bethlehem and Calvary.
Closing Prayer
Come, O long expected Jesus. Set us free. Release us from our fears and sins by your death on Calvary. Be our strength and consolation. Be our hope and our joy, today and every day. Amen.