But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation;and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:11-12


One of my all time favorite songs is "Jesus Paid It All". You see when I consider the sacrifice of my savior Jesus Christ, I am consumed by emotion. A couple years ago I wrote an article about his love for me when he died on the cross, and I feel inspired to write again.


Years ago when I watched the Passion of the Christ, tears formed and I was overwhelmed with grief and sorrow. For so long I took for granted the sacrifice of Christ. The fact is that I never really appreciated what Christ endured on the cross until I saw that movie. Yes I understood that he was tortured and then had to carry his own cross and then be nailed to it. But when use see the whips that were used, and how his skin was literally pulled from his body, you truly understand the magnitude of what Jesus went through. When you consider the size and weight of the cross he had to carry, and then the distance he had to walk, you tremble with pain. And at the cross, when you look at the nail used, their length and shape, and how they had to pierce through his flesh and out the wood, it makes you cringe.


When we consider the sacrifice of Christ, it should cause us to introspect on our own life's. Have we honored the sacrifice that Jesus made for us? Are we worthy of his sacrifice? Are we sacrificing of ourselves for righteousness?


The bible teaches us this in Hebrews 13:15, "through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name." We should be continually be praising God for his sacrifice for our sins. Consider what the bible teaches in Ephesians 2:12-16 ",remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity." This passage more than anyone describes the state that we were in before Christ. We were separated from God, without hope. But the blood of Christ shed on the cross rescued us. That is something we should think on daily as we go through this life. The trials on this life can never compare to the sacrifice of Christ. We should stop crying about our problems and go to God in praying understanding that we are in a better position because of him.


Nowadays people have watered down the sacrifice of Christ, and even the celebration of his Lord's Supper has become ritualistic. My belief is that the Lord's Supper should be the central point of worship to God. As Christians we should be teaching more about the sacrifice of Jesus. I am saddened by those who continue to deny Christ. This passage describes their state, "For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things." This is not just applicable to non-Christians but to Christians as well. Christians are also guilty of this charge, for we often have our minds on the world forgetting the sacrifice of God. It is only on a Sunday morning that we remember the sacrifice of God.


With humbleness we should approach God each day on our knees really lifting his name on high in praise of his love for us. Our eyes should be filled with sorrow as we reflect on his death, burial and resurrection. Let us carry our own cross daily in honor of Christ. Now that does not mean a pendant, I am referring to the knowledge and acceptance of his sacrifice. God has been so good to us, he really paid it all for us..