What's Jesus Doing Up on the Cross? He's Satisfying.
Posted by James MacDonald on March 20, 2008 06:00 PM | Comments (10)I wonder if we can imagine just how much God hates sin. Think of every act of cruel barbarism that twists your stomach into a knot. Think of every act of wickedness measured out against pure innocence by rampant, heartless perversion. Think of the sickening things happening in this moment that no one will ever know about except God. Also at this very second, see the totality of all this evil rising like it always has and will as an unceasing stench to the nostrils of God.
Some ask, why doesn't God do something about sin? Newsflash: He did. All God's righteous hatred of all that sin from all of human history (including your sin and mine) was poured out upon Christ as He hung on the cross. What is Jesus doing on that cross?--He was satisfying God's holy demands. A holy God poured out His wrath on His innocent Son so that we could be forgiven. When Jesus said, "It is finished," God said, "paid in full." Sin was put away. In ways we will not ever fully comprehend, the Cross of Jesus Christ satisfied the requirements of a holy God.
In the last three blogs we've observed the heavy cost of Jesus' suffering in our place. Now consider all that is offered to us in the phrase: He is risen!
What's Jesus Doing Up on the Cross? He's Satisfying.
If the cross of Jesus Christ is the central target that all the Bible points to, the bull's eye is of how His death satisfied the wrath of God. Until you get that piece, the gospel is only an impersonal concept.
At the moment of Jesus' death, something bigger and better happened than any Hollywood production could ever report. Matthew 27:51 tells us, "And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split." The Holy of Holies, in the back of the temple behind an impenetrable eight-inch curtain, was where God dwelled in unapproachable holiness. No one went behind that curtain except a priest--and that was only once a year. The curtain reminded everyone of the sin that separated man and God.
How awesome then to read in Matthew 27:50 that at the precise moment Jesus "cried out and yielded His spirit," immediately, "the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom." The moment Jesus died as an atoning sacrifice for sin, when He suffered and was substituted and He satisfied the wrath of a holy God against our sin, the way opened to God. In the instant Jesus died, the veil in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom as God Himself reached down and tore the symbol of His separation from each of us. Sin is now paid for. Come into My presence. Wrath is averted. My Son has paid the price for your sin. Evil sinful men can now approach holiness. Why? Because of the Cross.
In fact, God wanted us to know that something had changed for all time. Not only was the curtain torn, but God Himself reached down and shook the earth and said, I want people to know something is happening--pay attention! Look at this: "The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, (it's like the original thriller!) and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many." The natural order of birth and death was reversed. It's unparalleled. It's unprecedented. Nothing like this will ever happen again. God was satisfied in the Cross of Jesus Christ.
So awesome and obviously supernatural was all of this that Scripture records: "When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, 'Truly this was the Son of God!'" (v. 54).
Consider this miracle of Jesus' resurrection as the pivit point of history. . . and that includes your history. This weekend, celebrate Jesus' payment of your debt that you could never pay on your own and the song of Easter morning: Jesus in my place.
"God forbid that I should glory in anything other than the cross of Jesus Christ." (Gal 6:14)
Comments
Posted by: Ike | March 21, 2008 07:34 AM
This brings tears of joy! I can't sing a note, but after reading this, this morning, I am certainly making a joyful noise unto the Lord!
Posted by: Daryl K | March 21, 2008 11:10 AM
Thankfully, “while we were yet sinners†(Romans 5:8), God redeemed us. Redemption is paying the price to loose from bondage. By sacrificing His Son on the cross, God paid the price for sin (which is death), freeing believers from sin’s oppression. By resurrecting Christ from the grave, God proved the sacrifice was effective, giving the Lord Jesus authority to rule and intercede at His right hand (Romans 4:25; Mark 16:19). WWWOOOOHHOOOOO God is Great!!!!
Posted by: Kenneth Gregory | March 24, 2008 04:11 AM
Man must come to realize that the BEST that we could do to only temporary satisfy God's justice, was to have a sinful priest enter into the temple once a year, every year, with a sacrifice.
Jesus deposited a payment that completely satisfied the Father's justice one time for everyone. Some of use are still trying to match His goodness, with our own dirty useless acts. It's true that all roads lead to God; One road (JESUS) lead to His eternal peace, - all other roads lead to His judgement.
Posted by: Gena | March 25, 2008 09:22 AM
James MacDonald...
First heard you teach at the Precept Conference last year with Kay Arthur and fell in love with the ability God has given you to share the Word with such passion and clarity. So many want to add to or take away from the perfection that is already there. Thank you for blessing so many of us with truth in such a poignant way and thank you for being obedient to God's call in your life. You, my brother, are a blessing daily in my life-keep laying those crowns at His feet!
Posted by: myron | April 1, 2008 09:43 PM
I vow to GOD that I will overcome. HE made it possible when HE vowed the SON's majestic blood. Gen 3:15 May JESUS name be elevated in my mind,heart,soul & mouth. Feeling LOVED!
Posted by: Fred M. Schmid | April 8, 2008 07:08 PM
I spent Easter (Saturday evening) at Harvest with my dad and family. It was a beautiful service. James, dig the glasses.
I saw a guy wearing a t-shirt that said "free" on it. Isn't it the great Christian paradox that we experience the most freedom when we are strongest in our servantude to Christ? (This brings up another possibility for the meaning of the cross-an example of faithfulness to God) ??? If only Christians would wake up with this level of commitment.
Peace...
Posted by: Tara | April 22, 2008 11:29 AM
Just read your latest on "The Weekly Walk" and it is so relevant, My dad passed away on Sunday 4/20 from colon cancer. Diagnised in February, gone in April. Yet we are praising God for his Mercy to my dad, and rejoicing in that his faith has become sight!
Your books, online sermons, and DVD studies have ministered greatly to us. We only "stumbled" upon Gripped only months ago!
Posted by: don | April 26, 2008 01:46 PM
James,
Are you on spring break?
It has been more than a month since you have blogged. :(
See you soon,
Don
Posted by: Ryan | April 28, 2008 06:46 PM
Is there going to be an update soon? I am going through "Listen Up" withdrawl, big time.
Posted by: Don | April 28, 2008 07:38 PM
James,
Everything O.K.? It's been a long time, are you alright?
If not, I'm coming back home to minister His Amazing Grace to you.
Just say the word. I will be there!
A friend,
Don