Jesus Paid the Price

Jesus Paid the Price

When Jesus went to the cross He paid the ultimate price for the sin of all men, He went of His own will as we know all to well. He had one primary purpose, to pay the debt that was required for the transgressions of men. However one point we tend to overlook is that He paid the price for guilt and shame, He took it all away! In Hebrews 9:11-15 the writer reminds us that if the blood of bulls and goats can take away sin, then how much more can the blood of Christ “cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God”(verse 15). You will notice that he emphasizes the word “conscience” in other words to remove the guilt and shame from your mind! You see Jesus does not need to be reminded that we are sinners and we have need of Him, He is all to aware that He is our mediator, it is we who need reminding. The guilt and shame that comes upon us at the moment of realization of our failures can all to often be more than we can bare. This realization of failure can cause men to run form God, sever relationships with friends and loved ones, and more. Truly the only entity that prospers in this environment is the enemy of our souls. Could it be that when Jesus was having communion with His disciples this was exactly the result He was attempting to avoid. Jesus told His disciples, “do this often in remembrance of Me” why? Was Jesus seeking to cause men to walk around in misery and anguish remembering how unworthy and inadequate they are for what He did? Was He seeking to have us remember how much pain and suffering He endured in His innocence, i truly doubt it. As I study the word I come more and more to the understanding that this is not at all who Jesus is or what He was attempting to accomplish. The reality is Jesus was and is wanting us to walk in the freedom not of sin but of redemption through His blood. Redemption without condition, redemption that creates a freedom from the guilt and shame that we refuse to leave at the foot of the cross where it belongs. In freedom we maintain fellowship with God, we walk in love with our fellow man, and we live with the joy of knowing that perfection while not something we can attain on our own is a free gift of God! We become gracious because of the grace we have received, we extend mercy because of His mercy toward us. We avoid judging others because we recognize that we ourselves have been judged, found guilty, and been pardoned. We no longer return to the pile of rubbish that Jesus bought and paid for only to steal it back, we leave it to be extiguished by its rightful owner! Our goal becomes one that is focused upon wholeness and completeness with God and the same for those we know and love,and yes even for those we struggle with. God does not want us to have a guilty conscience, no He desires for us to be whole and to walk in the salvation that He has provided.
In Exodus chapter twelve the Lord institutes the very first passover, the first example of God seeing the blood of the sacrifice as payment in full. Exodus 12:23 “For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and the door posts, the Lord will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you.” You will notice that the Lord did not open the door to see who was inside, He wasn’t seeking those worthy nor those who had remorse, He was looking only for the blood of the sacrifice. When the Lord looks at you does He desire to see your imperfections, is He wondering if you are remorseful for your failings, is His goal to remind you of all you have done and been forgiven of, the answer of course is no. He,” seeing the blood of the sacrifice will pass over you”. The Lord sees only what He is looking for, and that is the blood of Jesus Christ, and that my friends is payment in full for your failings and misgivings!
You see Jesus truly did pay the price, He paid it in full, there are no more installments, the debt has been satisfied, forever! Jesus paid the price, not just for you but for all who believe!

Gene Burroughs
Pastor Shasta Lake Church