Jesus Christ died to give us a gift. When Christ gave up His life on the Cross, He did it for you and me. He gave humankind all that was needed for our sins to be forgiven and to enter into an eternal relationship with Him. His death offers freedom from sin, death, and the grave! His death gives life. Hebrews 12:2 (NIV) says of Christ, “…For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” How could Jesus find joy knowing what was to come? His joy came from a perfect relationship with His Father and complete obedience to His plan—a plan that defeated Satan and provided a way to reconcile humankind to God. Christ also asks us to die to ourselves so that we may give as well. Jesus shared in Matthew 16:25 (NIV), “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” We are called to die to ourselves for God. When we do this, He gives us true life and then begins to radically give through us.