John 19:30 "When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said "It is finished", and He bowed His head and gave up His Spirit."

Because of Adam and Eve being deceived by Satan, His people were deep in sin. But God had a plan. A plan that resulted in His Son leaving the comfort of His Father's side. But Jesus was still willing to come. He was despised and rejected by men, but He loved us anyway. He lived a perfect, sinless, life but He took on the weight and sin of this world for us anyway.

Jesus died the most punishable of deaths for us.

Mary lost her son. Something completely unimaginable and the disciples had to place their Lord in a tomb. But He rose three days later, just like He promised.

Jesus was beaten. He was spit on. He was bitten. His hair was pulled. He was kicked on and punched on. He was mocked. He was ridiculed while on the cross. Given sour wine. But Jesus didn't care. All He cared about was saving us. Because, contrary to what we like to think, we are incapable of saving ourselves.

It. Is. Finished. The plan of redemption. No longer do we have to sacrifice cows or sheep, or lamb, or oxen. No longer do we have to go to a priest to ask for forgiveness. Jesus took care of that. Giving us a direct line to the Father.

We face trials on this earth. But God has a plan that is pure and perfect. We are broken. But God can heal. WE mourn. But God can comfort. We walk in darkness daily. But God brings the light. Our plans fail us. But God has a plan that is ultimately perfect, even in the midst of pain, darkness, and fear. Death had a grip on us and we were doomed to hell. But God beat death, ransacked hell, and took its keys. Friends can betray us. But God us a friend who sticks closer to us than a brother.

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor anything else in all creation, will separate us from the love in Jesus." Romans 8:38-39

This world is in need of this story. Christianity is different from every other religion on the planet. Why? Because our God is still living. Our God died for us and rose three days later, saving all of mankind from the agony of hell. Our God us coming back for us again. Grab hold of the Great Commission and tell the world this story of hope, of mercy and grace, of redemption, of forgiveness, of unconditional love that never fails, and of an eternal life with Jesus Christ in all His Glory.

"The world has no greater need than a good story." - John Michael Ritchey