Even though Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ was an excellent film, it did give the idea that the cross of Christ, horrific and brutal as it was, was a tragedy. I think that this thought is prevalent in Christendom today. But the cross of Christ was the most triumphant event that has ever been witnessed on earth and the single most important love story played out in history. The love of a Creator Saviour for His created, the love of a Father's anguish in watching His only begotten Son brutally twisted in agony upon a cruel, hard, wooden cross. And why? We were certainly not deserving, despising and rejecting Him, "
we all like sheep have gone astray. We have turned, every one, to his own way." (Is 53:6) But such is love, great love and unfathomable love.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (Joh 3:16)The cross was the ultimate sacrifice by which we were redeemed. The sinless One offered up for the sinner. Our sins, our offences against a Holy God, paid for in full, by the blood of the Lamb. We have been redeemed. A holy purchase has been made. A heavenly transaction took place. Redeemed, "
not with corruptible things, like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." (1Pet 1:18) Our sins, violent, heavy, degrading, shame-forming, guilt-destroying, was laid upon Him and this transaction was "
foreordained before the foundation of the world." (1 Pet 1:19-20). A swap was made, "
And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." We were the debtors in this transaction. We owed, unable to pay back, bankrupt but His mercy and love reached out in a willing sacrifice to wipe our debts away.
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Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." (Joh 15:13) Willing to come, willing to feel the restraints of a fleshly body and emotions, hungry, cold, tired, tempted, loved and loving, hated, laughing, crying, touching and healing; yet still God wrapped in human flesh but with extraordinary power, sprung from compassion, moved by the Spirit and intimately empowered by obedience to the Father in Heaven. Thus He can say, "
Therefore My Father loves Me because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father." (Joh 10:17-18)
Tragedy, no! Triumphant, yes! And the annals for eternity ring out in joyous applause, to the Lamb, to the Christ and victorious Lord, "
And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation." (Rev 5:9) AMEN, forever may it be so, for He bore the sins of many and made intercession for the transgressors.
