Christ’s Substitution For You.

With the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

–

1 Peter 1:19

It is one thing to be a substitute teacher, or be the one in a ball game who comes in as a substitute for another. They are important for their specific purpose. But there is One whose substitution far outweighs any other on this Earth… Christ’s substitution for you.

The Bible recounts many instances of something or someone taking the place of another. The Lord provided a ram to Abraham for Isaac (Genesis 22:13). A lamb was slain and its blood was placed on the doorposts to protect Israel’s firstborn (Exodus 12). Isaiah presented the Messiah as the innocent Lamb (chapter 53). Hundreds of years later, at the sight of Jesus, John the Baptist proclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

Puritan Thomas Watson understood that redemption (payment for another) was God’s greatest work: “Great was the work of creation but greater the work of redemption; it cost more to redeem us than to make us; in the one there was but the speaking of a Word, in the other the shedding of blood (Luke 1:51).”

Hymnwriter Frances Ridley Havergal saw a picture of the crucified Christ and penned these words: “I gave My life for thee/The precious blood I shed/ That thou might ransom be/ And quickened from the dead/ I gave, I gave, My life for thee/ What hast thou given for Me?” The truth is that you can do nothing – Christ did it all for you! In response, love Him, serve Him, and give Him the honor He so deserves.