What is the crucifixion of Jesus really all about?

Jesus - crossing the gap

If God really exists, why is it that most of us can't see him most of the time? Why do we pray and then wonder if anyone has listened? Why don't we feel his comfort when we are in difficulties? Why does the world seem to carry on without him?

The bible answers like this: "The Lord's arm is not too short to save, nor his ears too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you" (Isaiah 59:1-2). The wrongs we have done have made a chasm between us and God. A big gap:

Me

?

God

Humanity is a mix of good and bad: great potential, but great capacity for making a mess of life. I'm a sinner.

I don't mean I'm as bad as I possibly could be. I do mean that in every respect, I'm less good than I was created to be. I don't even live up to my own standards, and God's standards are higher than mine.

That's a
big gap.
How could
anyone ever
cross it?

God is holy - he's pure, he's single-minded, totally good, uncompromised. So how can he let me into his presence if I'm imperfect? - I would ruin his kingdom!

If I had a faulty washing machine I'd get rid of it and buy a new one. What's to stop God getting rid of the human race and starting afresh?

The bad news: no ordinary person is good enough to cross this gap.
The good news: Jesus crossed it. He was good enough for God. His death took the punishment for sin that should have been mine.

The cross of Jesus is a giant swop sign: God swops our sinfulness for Jesus' goodness. We get to be forgiven and let into God's presence, so we can feel God close to us and know him in our lives. The wrong things don't stop mattering, but the do stop making a blockage between us and God.

"Oh, dearly, dearly, has he loved,
and we must love him too,
and trust in his redeeming blood,
and try his works to do."

John Hartley