For Something Greater

One of the most interesting aspects of the upcoming Men's Final Four in Indianapolis is that the team currently considered the biggest underdog is also the one that's been most dominant and successful in recent history.

Since 1999, UConn has won an incredible six national championships, the most of any program during that stretch. The Huskies have also won two of the past three national titles, having cut down the nets in both 2023 and 2024.

While others might be labeling UConn as an underdog heading into the semifinals, Huskies head coach Dan Hurley certainly isn't viewing things that way. To no one's surprise, he's made it abundantly clear that he's not satisfied to simply participate in another Final Four. 

When speaking to reporters ahead of his team's showdown with Illinois on Saturday, Hurley stated, "We came here for rings, not watches. Everyone that comes to the Final Four gets a beautiful watch, but only one group is going to get a ring."

Although it's nice that everyone who participates in the Final Four receives a special watch as a gift, the teams fortunate enough to be in the event are certainly coming to Indianapolis with the intention of accomplishing something much greater.

As we celebrate Good Friday today, I keep in mind that so many people alive during Jesus' earthly ministry didn't fully understand the gravity and greatness of what He came to accomplish. 

Before Jesus' incarnation, many Jewish people believed their Messiah would be a military hero and a valiant warrior. With the backdrop of the Roman Empire's stranglehold on the Jewish people during Jesus' ministry, people concluded that Jesus' main purpose in coming to earth was to triumphantly lead a military uprising to overthrow Rome and return Israel to political independence.

But, in reality, Jesus came to accomplish something much greater.

Many people believed that Jesus was merely a great teacher with superlative thoughts on life and morality. They thought His primary purpose in coming was to show us how to be better people and how to live a moral life.

And while it's certainly true that Jesus came to demonstrate the proper way to live, He ultimately came to accomplish something much greater. 

Even today, some people claim that Jesus' primary purpose in coming to earth was to provide us with the ultimate example of what sacrifice looks like. They contend the main point of His ministry was to show how far we should be willing to go for the sake of others.

Again, we would never deny that Jesus certainly provides the perfect example of selfless, loving, and sacrificial living. But while Jesus shows us how far we should be willing to go to serve others, He came to accomplish something much greater.

Having freedom from an oppressive government is a good thing, but it in no way guarantees we'll be set free from the bondage of sin.  

Jesus' moral teachings were perfect, but they do not enable us to be in a right relationship with God, because we have all failed to uphold them fully (Romans 3:23). 

The same holds true for the example He set with His life. While He lived a perfect life on earth, we understand that we’re incapable of completely emulating His perfect example.

So, what was this "something greater" that Jesus came to accomplish?

For as many wonderful things that Jesus accomplished during His earthly ministry, the pinnacle was when He offered His life on the cross as a sacrifice for sin, making a way for lost sinners to be reconciled to a Holy God.

In 1 Timothy 1:15 (ESV), the Apostle Paul says, "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."

Jesus Himself said in Luke 19:10 (NASB), "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

Make no mistake about it, Jesus' primary mission during His first coming was to offer up His life as a sacrifice for sin, taking God's wrath upon Himself so that He could restore true believers to a right relationship with Him.

On Good Friday, we celebrate that Jesus willingly offered His life on our behalf to pay for our sins. And on Easter, we celebrate that Jesus was raised from the dead, providing ultimate proof that He defeated sin and death, and His sacrifice was effective.

While reflecting on Jesus' death and resurrection, let's be in awe of what He accomplished. Through His perfect sacrifice, God restores sinful people like us to communion and fellowship with Him.

As 1 John 4:10 (NLT) reminds us, "This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins."

I'm Matt Osborne, and you can UNPACK that!

Happy Easter!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross and take upon Himself the penalty for my sin. Please help me to continually be in awe of what You have done for me. I pray that many people will come to trust in Christ this weekend through the proclaiming of Your Gospel. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.