Victory Through a Substitute – January 21, 2026

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Read: Colossians 2:6-15

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. Colossians 2:9-10a

Victory Through a Substitute

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Right before the school talent show started, Connor developed a bad cough. No matter what he tried, he couldn’t stop coughing. There was no way Connor could sing his song on stage. No performance meant no chance to win the prize.

But something amazing happened. Connor’s brother, Grayson, stepped in. He looked a lot like Connor. He wore Connor’s clothes. He sang Connor’s song. Everyone thought, “Wow, Connor did a great job!” The performance won first place. And when it was time to get the award, Grayson gave all the credit to Connor—even though Connor hadn’t sung a single note!

That’s called a substitute—someone taking another person’s place. That kind of switch only worked because Grayson was human and looked like Connor. When it comes to the prize of heaven, something similar—but much bigger—happened. Jesus became one of us so he could take our place. Yes, Jesus is God. But he also became fully human. That’s what the apostle Paul means when he writes, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness” (Colossians 2:9-10a). Jesus didn’t stop being God—but he also became a real human being.

The Bible is clear what we humans have earned because of our sins. We have earned suffering, pain, and death. God made that clear to Adam and Eve—and he explained it to us too. For sin to be forgiven, someone had to pay the price. That price was death. And it had to be paid by a human who had never sinned.

That’s a problem—because none of us are perfect. We couldn’t make a perfect sacrifice. So God made one for us. God sent his own Son. Jesus became human so he could:

• Live a perfect life
• Follow God’s law completely
• Suffer and die in our place

That’s what it means when we call Jesus the Lamb of God. He didn’t just show us who God is. He took our place and paid our debt as someone who was innocent.

What you and I couldn’t do, God did for us. What you and I don’t deserve, God declared that it is ours. Jesus, the Lamb of God, looked like us. He had a body. He got hungry and tired. He felt sad. He felt pain. In everything, he stepped in for us, just like Grayson did for Connor—but on a much greater scale. What we lost because of sin, God gave back to us completely through Jesus.

Now that’s victory—through a substitute!

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for sending a substitute to die on the cross instead of us. Help us to praise you for this wonderful gift with our thoughts, words, and actions. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Because Jesus was human just like you, what are some things he experienced that you experience too? (Being tired? Hungry? Sad? Happy?)
• How does it make you feel to know that Jesus did everything needed so you can go to heaven?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Why did Jesus have to be both true man and true God? (What could he do as God? What could he do as a human?)
• What are you most excited about when you think about heaven—the reward Jesus won for you?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• While he lived on earth, Jesus was true God. Can you think of times when he didn’t use his full power? (When he was tired? When he suffered? When he died?)
• Why couldn’t God just say, “I’ll forget about everyone’s sins”? (What does this teach us about God’s justice and love?)

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