2025.11.02 | He Died for Me

It’s easy to get used to the story of Jesus’ death. We hear about the cross so often that sometimes we forget the weight of what really happened there. But this week’s message brought it all back into focus. Jesus didn’t just die for sin in general; He died for my sin, for our sin, for the broken places we still carry.

When Pastor Jeff shared how Jesus looked at His friends, the same ones who would deny, doubt, and even betray Him, and still chose to die for them, it stopped me in my tracks. The love of Jesus isn’t logical; it’s unconditional. It’s patient, even when we’re proud. It’s steadfast, even when we wander.

I’ve heard the story of the cross countless times, but this time it felt personal. When Pastor Jeff said, “Jesus died for me, for my sin, for my doubt, for my selfishness,” I realized how often I move past the cross too quickly. It’s easier to point to someone else’s failures than to face my own.

But Jesus saw all of it… my pride, my fears, my attempts to control, and still chose the cross. He died for the parts of me I try to hide, the ones I don’t even want to admit are there.
He died for my addiction to comfort and control. For my bitterness when forgiveness feels impossible. For my stubbornness when I cling to what keeps me bound. Jesus carried the weight of my sin, my guilt, and my bondage, and nailed it to the cross.

The weight of sin is real, but so is the hope that comes after. The cross isn’t just a reminder of what I’ve done wrong; it’s proof that grace runs deeper. Because Jesus carried my sin, I can walk in freedom. Because He died, I can live with hope.

“Jesus died for sin, for His friends, for me.”
 
Those words echo long after Sunday… not to make us feel ashamed, but to call us closer to the kind of love that saves and transforms.

Jesus didn’t just take our place on the cross; He invited us into a new way of living… one anchored in grace, honesty, and hope.

If you missed this week’s message, you can watch the full sermon on Hope Community’s YouTube channel. Come be reminded of the love that changes everything…  the love that went to the cross for us.