March 31

God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. — 2 Cor 5:21 BSB

Our blessed Lord offered Himself for sin—to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree” (1 Pet. 2:24). It was necessary for either the sinner to suffer for his own sins or for a substitute to take his place. Jesus became that substitute, standing in the sinner’s place, bearing in His holy body and soul the punishment due to the sinner, for He “was numbered with the transgressors.” By shedding His most precious blood, He opened in His sacred body a fountain for the cleansing of all sin and impurity (Zech. 13:1).

The cross was the altar upon which this sacrifice was offered. Just as the blood of the slain lamb was poured out at the foot of the altar, sprinkled on its horns, and consumed in its unquenchable fire, so our blessed Lord shed His blood on the cross. There, He endured the full wrath of God, putting away sin by His sacrifice, offering His holy soul and body—His entire pure and sacred humanity, united with His eternal divinity—as an atonement for the sins of His people.

In this way, all their sins were atoned for, expiated, put away, and blotted out, never to be imputed to them again. This is the grand mystery of redeeming love and atoning blood. Here the cross shines in all its glory, for here God and humanity meet in the sacrifice of the God-man. Here, amid the suffering and sorrow, the groans and tears, the blood and obedience of God’s beloved Son in our nature, grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life.