The other day I was playing tip with my 8-year-old son, Josh, in the park. He was hiding under some play equipment that he knew I was too big to fit under. But I am much too clever for an 8 year old! So I stuck my leg under it to reach Josh. But in doing so, I accidentally kicked him in the teeth. Really, it was an accident! But Josh was really hurt. Poor little guy! Laughter and joy turned immediately to pain and sorrow. And I felt terrible! How could I treat my son like that?
After Josh recovered, I got thinking about how God hurt his son, his only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. But this was no accident. This was no dumb idea to outwit his son. Check it out;
16″For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Yeah, I know you know this verse, but never grow tired of it! God gave up his only Son to death; the death that you and I deserve for treating God like dirt. The death we deserve for kicking God in the teeth every time we ignore him and disobey him and fail to honour him as God.
And yet, in spite of treating God in such a terrible way, He has responded with love. God so loved us that he hurt his only Son Jesus, instead of hurting us; which is what we deserve. Jesus died in our place, as our substitute, to take the punishment we deserve. And so if we believe in Jesus, we no longer face death, shame and judgment. We now look forward to life, joy and paradise. Now that’s better than a kick in the teeth! (Sorry Josh)