Atonement at the Cross
About this episode
Who crucified Jesus? Was it Judas, the priests, Pilate—or the crowd?
In today’s MY Devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef reveals the deeper Truth: Jesus chose the cross. He went deliberately, willingly, and resolutely—not as a victim of circumstance, but as the Savior on mission. Every person who has ever lived inherited a spiritual debt and then added to it, but God, in mercy, provided a way out. On the cross, the Son of God paid what we could never pay, so that every repentant sinner who comes to Christ by faith can be set free.
Drawing from Philippians 2:5–11, Dr. Youssef highlights the humility of Jesus—God in the flesh—who became obedient to death, even death on a cross. And as Jesus suffered, He prayed words that still astonish us: “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34). This wasn’t forced surrender; it was love in action—love that satisfied God’s justice and opened the door to eternal life.
If you’re searching for true peace, lasting security, and a clean conscience before God, this episode points you to the only source: the crucified and risen Christ. Do you know the forgiveness and love of God?
Prayer: Jesus, Your love overwhelms me. I cannot fully fathom it; it humbles and sustains me. You are my Rock and my Redeemer. I long to live for You, the lover of my soul. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8).
Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon The Folly and the Power of the Cross, Part 2: LISTEN NOW| WATCH NOW
The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today’s devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don’t have to walk through it alone.
🙏 Pastoral Care & Prayer Teams
Our trained prayer partners and pastoral care team are available to pray with you and offer Biblical support.
https://ltw.org/care
💬 Receive personal answers to your faith questions—anytime, day or night—at:
https://myfaithassistant.com
If you’ve been blessed by this podcast, please consider a tax-deductible donation to help extend this ministry—so another person can be encouraged, prayed for, and pointed to Christ.
❤️ Support Leading The Way:
https://www.ltw.org/donate
Interactive timestamps
Jump to segmentGet every episode summarized
Each time MY Devotional: Daily Biblical Encouragement & Prayer from Leading The Way publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
Transcript ready
34 searchable segments. Every word is indexed and playable.
Full transcript
MY Devotional: Daily Biblical Encouragement & Prayer from Leading The Way — Atonement at the Cross. Machine-transcribed; use the interactive transcript above to jump the player to any line.
0:00This is Michael Yusuf, and you're listening to today's My Devotional From Leading the Way, Uncompromising Truth for Everyday Faith. The first of April 2026, Atonement at the Cross, every one of us, all 8 billion people alive in the world today, was born with a spiritual debt that we could never repay. But first we inherited it, and then we added to it. But God in His mercy has provided a way of escape from this prison of spiritual debt. On the cross, God the Son paid it all, so that every repentant sinner who comes to Christ in faith can be set free from this crushing debt. But who crucified Jesus? Some say it was Judas who, out of greed, delivered Jesus to the priests. Others would say it was the priests who handed Jesus over to Pontius Pilate.
1:03Still others would say it was Pilate who signed off on Jesus' execution. But when Jesus was hanging on that cross in agony, He prayed, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. The truth is, Jesus chose the cross for Himself. He went to the cross deliberately and willingly. He came from heaven and was born as a baby to die upon it. At the right time He set His face toward Jerusalem. He would not let His disciples or anyone else sway Him. He knew He had come to die in this way. Jesus willingly, voluntarily and resolutely went to the cross. And He did it out of love, a love so great that He stood in our place, bearing the crushing punishment for us in and satisfying for ever the justice of God. This is the greatest story ever told. The greatest news for the lost and wayward soul, the greatest gift you could ever receive.
2:06Do you know the forgiveness and love of God? Join me in prayer. O gracious Lord, Your love overwhelms me. I cannot fully fathom it. It humbles and sustains me. You are my rock and my redeemer. I long to live for you, the lover of my soul. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
More episodes
More from MY Devotional: Daily Biblical Encouragement & Prayer from Leading The Way
The Danger of Indifference
MY Devotional: Daily Biblical Encouragement & Prayer from Leading The Way
Champions of the Faith
MY Devotional: Daily Biblical Encouragement & Prayer from Leading The Way
Grace to Stand for the Gospel
MY Devotional: Daily Biblical Encouragement & Prayer from Leading The Way
Faith to Believe the Whole Truth
MY Devotional: Daily Biblical Encouragement & Prayer from Leading The Way