Today millions around the world will be remembering the death of our Saviour. Some who acknowledge His death may have no idea of its meaning. When Christ died, it meant that the ultimate sacrifice was completed. The Old Testament sacrifices are now satisfied. When Christ rose from the dead, He defeated death. What does that mean for us? We can never work our way to Heaven, because we cannot satisfy God’s demand—perfection. Jesus satisfied God because He is His perfect Son. Now we can come into the good of His sacrifice only by trusting in Him.

                Below is an article that my brother Micah wrote back in 2015 concerning the cross. This Good Friday, let us not cease to remember all that Christ has done for us.

 

“Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Galatians 1:3-5

 

The Nature of the Cross

 

                These verses are the gospel in a nutshell, and can fittingly be called the core of this Galatian epistle. It is simple to understand, yet profound to consider, and a challenge to apply. It represents the core of God’s purposes and the price He was willing to pay in order that they may be fulfilled. Understanding these truths will help us understand more of the gravity behind that which is eternal both in plan and in effect.

I. The cross represents the ultimate sacrifice.

              1 John 4:9 describes the death of Christ as the very manifestation of God’s love. God, Who is love, chose the utmost expression of His character to be seen in the cross. No more fully could His love be expressed as in the giving of Himself, by Himself, for the cause of another.

          Notice the consent of the sacrifice. It was not that He was forced to die, but rather He chose to do so. Some ignorantly see the cross as “divine child abuse”, disregarding the fact that the Good Shepherd gives, by His own will, His life for the sheep. In another aspect, He was as a sheep before her shearers is silent—submissive. The cross is the perfect portrayal of love because it was voluntary.

         Notice also the cost in the sacrifice. He gave Himself. If the creations of the Most High God are precious, how precious must His person be! And yet the One who rightly claims equality with God humbled Himself to manhood. The Creator of life gave His own. The Light of the world was in darkness for three hours. The perfect, sinless Lamb of God was made as if He was responsible for our sin. Great cost indeed!

         Finally notice the cause for the sacrifice. It was for the cause of sin—our sin. One could ask “why the pain? Why the cry ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’?” if this is ever your question, take a long look in the mirror: He did that for you. It wasn’t “their sins”, but “our sins”. Truly our sins were great if they cost His own precious blood.

 

II. The cross represents the ultimate purpose.

               It is interesting that no mention of judgement is found in our verse, rather Paul points to Christian separation as one of the main purposes of the cross. Christ gave Himself for our sins in so that we might not continue any longer in them. Now, while the immediate context would directly deal with being separate from the false religious world, we can certainly apply this to all forms of evil—that which we are called to abstain from. What a sad situation when a believer is carnal. Peter describes it this way: “But he that lacks these things (fruit for God/ godliness) is blind and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” (2 Peter 1:9) Let us not be a people who forget, but who live in worship and obey because we have understood the immense cost for our position of service and sonship.

           And so, dear believer, do you love the world and the things that are in it? Could you be joyful if God called you away from your career, your friends, or your hobbies for the purpose of greater service? Are you ready to be separate from it and “come out from among them”? Does the prospect of the rapture thrill your heart as you understand that the Lord will ultimately snatch you away from this age of evil in which we live? We once were part of the world’s systems that will ultimately perish, but now we are citizens of Heaven. Let us not forget our calling. Let us not forget its price.

 

III. The cross represents the ultimate fulfilment.

                There are two aspects of the cross in relation to God’s will that we can consider, one of which is the importance of Christ’s perfect example of submission to it. Hebrews 10:7 says “Lo, I have come… to do Thy will, O God.” This was His mission. This was His delight. John 4:34 is essential regarding this! “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work.” Then in John 19:30, He said “Finished!” representing not only a completed redemption but a completed life—all according to His own will and to His Father’s will. Had the Lord been deficient (an impossibility) in doing God’s will, He would have proven to be no Saviour. The wilful giving of His own self proves the validity of His life and His work. Then by the resurrection, the Father in a way said “It is finished indeed!”. Without all this we would be lost.

          Secondly, simply take time to appreciate that it is God’s will to work in you, even at the ultimate price. Even from before the foundations of the world, God saw you with an everlasting love and desired to set you apart for service. Is this not precious to you? “How precious are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!” (Psalm 139:17) “For I know the thoughts I think toward you; thoughts of peace, not of evil.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

 

IV. The cross represents the ultimate result.

              This result only logically follows, which is the glory of God unto the ceaseless ages of eternity. The Lord Jesus only amplifies this truth in John 17 “Father, the hour has come, glorify the Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee… I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which You gave Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine one self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.” God, because He alone is worthy, will make sure to glorify Himself through the cross. On a practical note, do we support that? “Let your light shine in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) May we so honour the precious work of the Saviour that we might not pretend He died for nothing, and instead live up to the name we claim.