Have you ever had an argument with God? My friend David did. Although he was a Christian, he questioned God's justice in allowing His innocent Son Jesus to be so cruelly punished on behalf of guilty people. As David tried to make sense out of Christ's horrible death on the cross, he became extremely agitated. One day as he cried out, "Why?" God comforted his troubled mind with this thought: It was the only way!

Peter, one of our Lord's disciples, had a similar struggle understanding God's purposes. He knew that Jesus was "the Christ of God" (Lk. 9:20), but he rebuked Him when He began teaching that He would suffer, be killed, and rise again (Mk. 8:31-32). Peter couldn't accept such an injustice happening to the sinless Christ. In response, Jesus rebuked Peter because he had unknowingly expressed a satanic outlook. He was thinking as man thinks, not as God thinks (v.33). Jesus knew that His death was necessary to provide forgiveness, for "without shedding of blood there is no remission" (Heb. 9:22).

On the cross Jesus paid the penalty for our sins, but He did it willingly out of love for you and me. Although His terrible death was totally undeserved, there was no other way He could save us. Have you thanked Him today?  — Joanie Yoder