Greetings, and welcome to the GospelBlog, and I do hope that you will love the posts about the gospel here. Today is a story that illustrates, draws us a word picture, of the gospel. The story comes from Genesis 44, if you’d like to read it.

In this story, Joseph’s steward is told to place Benjamin’s cup back in his sack, and when they catch up with the brothers who are returning home, there is an accusation made that someone has the silver cup in his sack. The brothers deny it and invite a search, and upon searching the cup is discovered in Benjamin’s sack. This requires Benjamin to return to Egypt and become the servant of the ruler.

But Judah steps forward and intercedes for his brother, Benjamin. But notice the ground of Judah’s argument. He doesn’t dare argue on the innocence of Benjamin, no the cup was indeed in his sack and there were witnesses. Instead, he argues on the basis of substitution. “My life for his life.” He agrees to be surety, a substitute for his brother.

And here Judah is depicting the gospel of Jesus Christ, as Jesus, the “Lion of the Tribe of Judah” intercedes for you and I, those who are guilty of sin. He doesn’t argue on the basis of innocence on our part, but rather on the basis of His substitionary death. “My life for their lives.”

And this is the heart of the gospel, that God sent His Son to die for guilty people, so that they could be free and forgiven and have eternal life.

²⁵ Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25

I wonder, if you identify with the truths in this story. Do you know yourself to be guilty, lost, undone, without hope? Yes, that’s offensive, except to the one who knows the truth of it. And then, do you know the power of your Substitute, who has taken your place, paid for your wrongs, died your death and bought your eternal life?

If you’re offended by this post, please consider that it may be the truth, and that if you embrace it as true it can change your life. Believing this message will forgive your sins, remove your guilt and shame, give you new life and enable you to live forever. If you want to know more, please contact us.