Galatians 3:13. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”
Think together: Have you ever been accused or punished for something that you didn’t do wrong? How did that make you feel?
Read together:
Trying to obey God’s law puts us under a curse. In what way? Because we simply cannot obey all of God’s rules. And we definitely can’t obey them perfectly as God requires. So, like we said in our last devotional, if we try to live by keeping God’s law, we will only be guilty and deserving of punishment. On top of that, we will always feel scared, anxious, and discouraged when we fail to obey God perfectly (which is all of the time).
The good news of Jesus is found in Galatians 3:13, though. Jesus Christ BECAME the curse for us. What does that mean? Paul is talking about the cross. He quotes a verse in the Old Testament—”Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—and connects it to Jesus and his cross. What was the cross? It was a “tree.” A tree that was cut down and turned into a cross for criminals and slaves to die on.
When Jesus died on that tree, he was dying as a cursed person. Jesus died as though he was a terrible sinner who broke all of God’s laws. Have you ever been punished for something you didn’t do wrong? That’s the worst feeling ever, isn’t it? Now imagine being Jesus and being cursed by God when you have never done ANYTHING wrong, ever!
The fact that Jesus died as a cursed person on a cross made it really hard for people to believe in him, especially the Jews. How could God’s savior, God’s son, God himself be cursed by God? That makes no sense. But the answer is in these two little words: “for us.”
Why did Jesus become a curse? Why did he die on the cross as a sinner? Why did he allow himself to be punished for sinning even though he never sinned, not once?
For us. For you. For me.
Do something together: Fill a backpack with heavy objects (big books, etc.). Have the smallest person carry the backpack while adding more and more weight to it. Then have the strongest person (mom or dad) carry the pack back FOR the other. Talk about how the law becomes a heavier and heavier burden to carry, until Jesus carries it for us.
Because of Jesus: We no longer live under the law’s curse (guilt).
With Jesus: We will never be punished for our sin.
Pray: Father, I’m so glad that you sent Jesus to be the curse for me. Now let me live for others, helping them the way Jesus helped me. Amen.
