What Kept Jesus on the Cross?

Easter is this Sunday! Easter is one of the most important holidays in Christianity, as Jesus rising from the dead is the basis of the religion.

Holy Week has already started, with Sunday being Palm Sunday. On Thursday, Jesus and his disciples had the last supper, and Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. On Friday, Jesus was put on trial and was crucified. Jesus knew that the crucifixion would be brutal, and while in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed that if there were any other way to save the world, for God to do it. But, that was not God's plan. Jesus HAD to be sacrificed.

³⁵ When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. ³⁶ And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. ³⁷ Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.
³⁸ Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. ³⁹ Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads ⁴⁰ and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” ⁴¹ In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ⁴² “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.
~Matthew 27 (NIV)

 Jesus had to be sacrificed, and willingly did so because He loves you. It was not the nails that held Jesus to the cross. He could have found a way down or asked God to release Him, but His love for us kept Him there until the job was finished.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
~John 3:16 (NIV)

 Jesus can relate to you. Not in every specific scenario, but understands the suffering you are feeling. After all, He went through death in the most cruel and brutal way, and loves you enough to have done that.

We all received dots on our wrists with our names by it. This is to remind us that Jesus died for us. Everytime you look at it, remember that He died for YOU.

{When you look at your dot, remember that Jesus died for you}