Put Your Name In the Blank

I’ve been reading through the book of Acts recently with the start of the new year. The other day I came across this verse from Peter’s sermon in Acts 2:

“Let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” – Acts 2:36

That last phrase stung when I realized that my name is included in that. “This Jesus whom YOU crucified.” This Jesus whom Josh crucified. This Jesus whom _____crucified. Insert your own name. Our sin nailed him to the cross. It wasn’t just the house of Israel. It was me. It was you.

C.J. Mahaney reminds us in his book The Cross-Centered Life to “preach the Gospel to ourselves everyday.” You and I need to be reminded of our need for Jesus everyday. The pharisee inside me wants to pop out every-so-frequently, to convince me that I’m good the way I am. That I’ve reached a level of maturity that no longer necessitates my need for daily confession of sin, for personal spiritual renewal and revival, and for a childlike love and passion for Jesus that cannot be quenched and that goes beyond intellectual ascent.

I heard Pastor Mark Driscoll say recently that when it comes to our own sin, we beg for mercy. But when it comes to someone else’s sin, we demand justice. There’s so much truth behind that, and that truth drips with hypocrisy.

Put your name in the blank. Then thank Jesus that he didn’t leave you in your sin.