It should have been us?

Many have made this statement concluding that it should have been us that died on the cross, but instead, Jesus took our place. But did Jesus really take our place? Nowhere in scripture do we find that Jesus took our place or that He was our substitute. This is a misconception!

It is said that Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, the lamb without blemish (1 Peter 1:19), our savior (Ephesians 5:23), our redeemer (Titus 2:14), our peace (Ephesians 2:14), our king (Revelation 17:14), but never our substitute. Should it really have been us who died on the cross? Consider this point. Were we the ones prophesied of that would come and live a perfect life and die on the cross? Absolutely not! It should have been Jesus because He was the one prophesied about and He was only one that could have been the perfect sacrifice for our sin.

Some individuals would still argue and say that we are sinners and we deserve the death of the cross. While this in a sense true, it is still not the point. Jesus did not die so that we wouldn’t have to go to the cross. He died so that we wouldn’t have to go to Hell because Hell is what we ultimately deserve, not the cross! And because of Jesus’ death, we can have new life and be redeemed (Ephesians 1:7) so that we can live with Him in Heaven throughout all eternity.

Jonathan Glaesemann