A Tale of Two Cities

Romans 5
⁸But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Teaching Tool or Illustration-Picture of a Cross and a picture of a Guillotine

Do any of you know what a Cross and a guillotine have in common. They were both cruel methods of execution. However there is something else they have in common.

Do you know the story of A Tale of Two Cities? It is the story of an Englishman, Sydney Carton, who went to the Guillotine in place of a French Nobleman, Charles Darnay. Tricked by the evil Madame Defarge in retuning to France, Darney is imprisoned and condemned to the guillotine. He is guilty of no crime except his noble birth. Carton was a Darney look-alike. Seeing no other way Carton changes places and dies in the place of the innocent Frenchman.

Have you ever wondered why someone would do that? The Englishman was a drunk and felt the French Nobleman, a family man, had more reason to live. Carton had come to love the Frenchman’s family, and the Frenchman was an innocent man, who just happened to be born into the wrong family at the wrong time in history. .

Sydney Canton died for the innocent. But Jesus died for the guilty. We were the ones who were did the crimes but he was the one who did the time. Jesus died in our place. Christ was totally blameless and without sin but he became sin for our sake. God like the hero in the story of two cities could find no other way. We were guilty. Someone had to die. Jesus chose to change places with us. Jesus chose to die for the very people who sinned against him and even those who nailed him to the cross. All we have to do is repent and accept his forgiveness. This is grace we are given something we cannot earn or deserve. It is a free gift paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ. Have you accepted this gift? If not, now is the time to do so.

Prayer: Father we do repent of our sin and ask forgiveness. And we acknowledge Jesus as our savior and accept his love, forgiveness and gift of salvation. Amen