Day 296

Matthew 21:1-11; 26:6-13; Mark 11:1-11; 14:3-9; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:1-36. “Saving Grace”

         Jesus never hid the truth of His purpose here on earth.  Time and time again He predicted His death to His disciples, and yet they continually struggled to understand.  In comparing His death to a kernel of wheat (John 12:24), Jesus makes it clear that His death will bring about new life for many.  This is what the Apostle Paul meant when he said, “For God made Christ who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus was able to serve as the perfect sacrifice making full atonement once and for all for the sins of mankind (Hebrews 10:12).
         This sacrifice is what allows God the Father to extend saving grace to all who come to Him in faith for the forgiveness of their sins. As John said in 1 John 2:2, “He is the sacrifice for our sins. He takes away not only our sins, but the sins of all the world.”
         It is an irony that should cause us all to be humbled, that the horrific death that Jesus endured on the cross was the very event that allows for the beauty of saving grace in our lives.

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?