Heavenly Father,

Thank you that out of love for us you sent your Son, who willingly died in our place. Thank you for allowing him to take the punishment that our sin deserved.

We thank you for having him endure the false accusations from his enemies, the abandonment of his friends and the pain and suffering that were naturally a part of the cross.

We also thank you for placing upon Jesus the unendurable grief caused by our sin. The guilt and the shame built up over the history of the human race was placed on his shoulders.

This tragic death is not a defeat, but the most wonderful victory ever won. And he did it because he loved us.

Thank you in Christ’s name,

Amen.