Jesus went to the Cross because of Reconciliation.  The second letter in cross is R

"...that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.  Colossians 1:19 & 20

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Reconciliation is the process by which God and man are brought together again. The Bible teaches that God and man are alienated from one another because of God's holiness and man's sinfulness. Although God loves the sinner, it is impossible for Him not to judge sin (Heb.  10:27). Therefore, on the cross, God's love paid our debt of sin by dying in our place reconciling us to Himself. Through the sacrifice of Christ, man's sin was paid for and God's judgment against our sin was met. Thus, the relationship of hostility and alienation was changed into one of peace and fellowship through faith.

Reconciliation begins when one is first reconciled to God and the cross makes this possible. Ephesians 2:14-18. “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.  For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father”

 We understand more how God can bring us to be His sons and daughters through what Jesus did. Jesus died, judged in our place, for our sin on the Cross. Notice also that to redeem humans, Christ Himself had to become truly human. Christ’s real physical body and death were necessary for man’s salvation. He died as our substitute, taking upon Himself that which made us offensive to God, becoming the very embodiment of sin for us. God accepts the sinless sacrifice in the place of sinners. The price of sin was now paid, because of what He did for us on the cross. We can be in fellowship with God again, cleansed from all sin and made right in His eyes for there is no more debt we owe Him because of the cross. We are forgiven people.

The story of the prodigal son illustrates this. He walked away from his father into a life of sin and was separated from his father. When he was convicted, he repented and returned to his father who accepted him lovingly and happily forgave all his past. The son was willing to be a servant, but the father not only accepted him back as his son, he gave him a great party to celebrate.

This reconciliation not only makes us one with God, but one with one another. The Bible teaches divisions are no more, Jew, Gentile, slave, free, man or woman. 

Application:   The Cross reminds us of reconciliation into true fellowship with God and one another.

Prayer:   At the cross, At the cross
I surrender my life, I'm in awe of You, I'm in awe of You
Where Your love ran red
And my sin washed white
I owe all to You, I owe all to You Jesus!  Amen