Are You Worth The Death Of Jesus?

   Jesus went to the cross to die to pay the price for the guilt of the sins of all humanity for all time (Heb. 9:27-28).  For all humanity? Yes, for all humanity.  For all time?  Yes, for all time.  But Jesus’ dying on the cross holds its greatest meaning for you when you view it as having been done for you.  You personally.  You cannot make the death of Jesus have meaning for all humanity.  You can only make His death have meaning based upon how you personally react to it.  So, are you worth the death of Jesus?

   That question can make a person feel uncomfortable, huh?  We don’t like such personal focus on ourselves in such matters.  We don’t want the spotlight of personal responsibility to shine too brightly on us.  It spurs us to examine ourselves individually.  Each one of us is responsible for Jesus going to the cross.  Each one of us made His death necessary.  Not the whole world.  Not all mankind.  You, and me.  You caused Jesus to go to the cross, and so did I!
   “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16).  That word “whoever” in that verse is you, and me.  “But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).  For “us”; there’s you and me again. 
   It’s true that Jesus sent His apostles into “all the world” (Mk. 16:15), to “all nations” (Matt. 28:19) to preach the gospel message of salvation, the message which Jesus left Heaven to bring to mankind, the message of His death on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.  But response to the gospel has to come on an individual basis.
   “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mk. 16:16).  Notice it is “he” who believes and is baptized who will be saved, the individual.  “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins...” (Acts 2:38).  Again, “every one of you.”  Jesus died in order to extend the invitation to be saved to all mankind, but each one of us must respond individually to that invitation.
   All mankind cannot respond for you or for me.  All humanity for all time cannot make Jesus’ death worthwhile to you individually.  Only you can do that!  Only you can answer the Savior’s call to you.  You are the only one who can make His death have meaning for you.  Jesus went to the cross for you.  He was tortured for you.  He was mocked by the crowd for you.  He wore the crown of thorns for you.  He died on that cross for you.  The spear was rammed into His side for you, so you could have the chance to be baptized and His blood shed on that cross could cleanse you of your sins.  It was all for you…
   So, are you worth the death of Jesus?  How have you responded to what He did for you?…