And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. ~ 1 Timothy 3:16

The gospel is unique in that it is not based on mythology. One concern that I personally have is the mythological ideologies that many Christians have surrounding their understanding of the gospel, especially the cross of Christ.

For example, when Jesus cried out “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?”, he did so in the most vulnerable time. Rather than understanding these words from the real human experience of Christ, we often come up with all sorts of mystical ideas as to what God was doing to punish him behind the scenes.

Here is the truth, Jesus truly felt abandoned in that hour. He felt the weight of what was happening. He was dying, and the hand of God was not going to save him from this hour. He must go through it. He was sent into the world for this purpose, and he was now in the painful throes of it.

The fact that Jesus felt abandoned in that hour, in no way indicates that God was unfaithful to him or had turned on him. Suffering is part of the human experience, and tragedy often leads most of us to question God’s concern for us. Jesus experienced the full weight of human suffering coupled with the feeling of “where is God?”

When Christ suffered for us, not only was he making atonement for our sins, but he was also being perfected to be our High Priest forever. Consider the words of the writer of Hebrews.

For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him… ~ Hebrews 5:1-5

The sufferings of the cross were part of the process in which Jesus was being made perfect in his humanity to be our High Priest. Consider the following texts from Hebrews:

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour (come to the aid of) them that are tempted. ~ Hebrews 2: 14-18

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. ~ Hebrews 4:14-16 

The desperate cry of Jesus, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me” came at the most intense hour of Jesus’s human experience, in which he was being perfected as our High Priest. Jesus had known this hour was coming and literally dreaded it.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. ~ John 12:24-27

And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him. And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand. ~ Mark 14:32-42 

Consider the weight of this moment for Jesus. His friends (the disciples) had failed him, unable to pray with him. Judas had betrayed him to the Jewish authorities who despised him and were plotting to kill him. He was about to be beaten, publicly humiliated, sentenced to death, and nailed to a cross. He willingly did this for us, knowing that God had withdrawn his protective hand because this was the only way to save humanity. He also had to be made perfect through suffering to be our great High Priest who is merciful and compassionate and touched with the feeling of our infirmities.

Do not fail to grasp the human experience of what Jesus must have felt as he was experiencing all of this. Yet, he never stopped trusting God. He never sinned. He endured it all for us.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. ~ Hebrews 12:2-4 

Notice that the writer of Hebrews tells us to consider what Jesus endured so that we will not be weary and faint in our minds. Christ did not feel abandoned because of God turning his back on him. He felt abandoned because of the things he suffered like we all could feel if we are in the throes of death or tragedy.

In the book of Acts, the real human experience of Jesus was preached by the apostles and the Holy Spirit confirmed that testimony with power. Do not allow mysticism to creep into your beliefs about the sufferings of Christ. Allow the testimony of scripture about the real human experience of Jesus to fill your heart. The mystery of godliness is based on the truth that God was manifested in the flesh. Jesus redeemed us not by some mystical “behind the scenes” event. He redeemed us by suffering in his flesh and enduring the pain of human agony, and his human body and blood were sacrificed for us. He did this for two reasons: He loved God and he loved us!

May God grant us all understanding.

He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness without injustice, righteous and upright is He. ~ Deuteronomy 32:4

And now, may the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery. ~ 2 Chronicles 19:7

The belief that God poured out his wrath on Jesus is sometimes referred to as a divine exchange, and portrays God as condemning the innocent in order to justify the guilty. This theological view puts God at odds with his holy and innocent Son, and has God turning his back on Jesus when he was the most vulnerable. Jesus trusted the Father and was innocent in his sight, yet God turned on him and condemned him according to this view.

It is fair to point out that this theology creates a view of God that is contrary to everything the scriptures teach about God’s justice, equity, and compassion. If anyone were to portray God in this fashion apart from this theological view of the cross, they would likely be labeled a heretic and a false teacher. Yet the very same people who would label others as such for portraying God as such an unjust Judge, do the same when they portray God as doing that which was unjust to his own Son at the cross.

God’s throne is established on righteousness and truth (Psalm 89:14), and justifying the wicked and condemning the just are an abomination to the Lord (Psalm 89:14). Thus, it is fair to ask the question, why would God abandon the truth on which his throne is established and do that which is an abomination in his sight, then hold the world accountable to this very injustice on the day of judgment?

On the contrary, Jesus is the one by whom God is going to judge the world in righteousness, because Jesus is God’s righteous servant whom God vindicated by raising him from the dead.

It is fair to ask why anyone would think that God would need to abandon his own law, authority, and justice to show mercy to sinners. If God is all wise, could he not find a way to justify the ungodly without perverting his own justice? Certainly! And he did.

God justifies the ungodly through the blood of the innocent Christ who loved us and gave himself for us. God justifies the sinner who has faith in his Son who he gave his life as an innocent lamb without spot or blemish. That Jesus’s blood provides justification for all who believe speaks to the virtue of Christ’s innocence and holiness in the sight of God.

At the cross an innocent man died at the hands of sinful men. Jesus was condemned unjustly. The scriptures actually teach this over and over again. According to Peter’s first epistle, Jesus suffered wrongfully when he was condemned to death by sinful men, but Jesus committed himself to God who judges righteously. If we know that Jesus placed his hope in God as the righteous judge when he suffered wrongfully at the hands of men, why do we insist that it was God’s justice condemning him?

Still, there are those who will argue that it wasn’t that which men did to Jesus that mattered. It was that which God did behind the scenes, when God poured out his wrath on Jesus’s soul.  This argument doesn’t hold water when we consider what the scriptures have to say. According to the New Testament, Jesus’s body is the offering for our sins, and it was Jesus’s blood that redeemed us, reconciled us, justified us, and cleansed us from all sin. The body and blood of Jesus are given to the church in holy communion as that by which we call to remembrance what Jesus has done for us. The body of Jesus was slain by men, the blood of Jesus was shed by men who killed him. God saves us through the broken body and shed blood of Jesus.

God did not condemn the spotless lamb of God, by whose blood he saves the sinner. God justified his Son, and vindicated him by raising him from the dead. A careful examination of the scriptures shows that the death of Christ was an injustice by men, and the resurrection was God’s justice turning the injustice up on its head. Consider the following from the New Testament.

Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. ~ Acts 2:22-24

The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. ~ Acts 3: 13-15

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. ~ Acts 4:10-12

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. ~ Acts 5:30-32

Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. ~ Acts 7:51-56

The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. ~ Acts 10:36-43

Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. But God raised him from the dead: And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. ~ Acts 13:26-39 

The sure mercies of David (mentioned above) was the messianic promise God made to his Son that he would raise him from the dead. Consider Isaiah 55:

Give heed with your ears, and follow my ways: hearken to me, and your soul shall live in prosperity; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, the sure mercies of David.  Behold, I have made him a testimony among the Gentiles, a prince and commander to the Gentiles. Nations which know thee not, shall call upon thee, and peoples which are not acquainted with thee, shall flee to thee for refuge, for the sake of the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel; for he has glorified thee. ~ Isaiah 55:3-5 (Brenton Septuagint translation)

Over and over again, the resurrection is spoken of in scripture as God’s response to what the people did to Jesus. It was God’s holy and righteous response fulfilling his promise to his holy Son who trusted in him. It may surprise some, but the words from Acts 13 above are the words of the apostle Paul. It wasn’t the disciples of Jesus only who believed that Jesus had suffered unjustly, it was also Paul. Consider the following from Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians.

For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. ~ 1 Thessalonians 2:140-16

Paul never preached that God condemned Jesus at the cross. Those who think so are reading  Paul wrong. God did not pervert his justice by condemning a righteous and innocent man at the cross. The one who died for us was murdered as Stephen declared in Acts 7, and suffered wrongfully as Peter says in his first epistle. He died as an innocent lamb who laid down his life because he loved us and for his sake God has forgiven our sins (Ephesians 4:32; 1 John 2:12).

Jesus is, was, and always will be holy and unblemished, and for this reason, the grave could not hold him. God was not his adversary at the cross. God did not condemn him. God was in Christ reconciling the world, and by the grace of God Jesus tasted death for every man.

In his old age, the apostle Peter never relented in his belief that Jesus had suffered unjustly, and that Jesus’s faith in God when suffering wrongfully is our example to follow, because just as God vindicated Jesus, even so God is the righteous judge for us. 

For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

May God grant us all an understanding heart.

I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. ~ 1 John 2:12

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. ~ Ephesians 4:32

If you will let these verses sink down into your heart you will find the true beauty in the cross of Christ. Christ died for us, because he loved us. He died as a spotless lamb and it is for his sake (the sake of the innocent lamb of God) that God has forgiven our sins.

In Revelation 1:5, John tells us that Jesus loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood. It was love that freed us from sin. It was the perfect, sinless, holy Christ that sanctified us and made us accepted in the eyes of God.

Peter tells us that we were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. ~ 1 Peter 1:18

In the Old Testament when the sacrifices which foreshadowed Jesus were offered, they had to be offered as holy and unblemished sacrifices.

Consider for a moment what the ideology that claims that God poured out his wrath on Jesus, really teaches. It states that before God could save us, forgive us, redeem us, God had to exhaust all his wrath on a holy, pure, sinless, and spotless victim. It states that God had to get retribution on the innocent to save the guilty.

This concept is taught nowhere in scripture. It literally has to be built into texts and is of pagan origins. It is not the revelation of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Proverbs 17:15 tells us, He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord. God does not justify the guilty by condemning the innocent. This would make God an unjust Judge, but this is exactly what many teach. Instead, God justifies the guilty because the innocent lays down his life for the guilty, and this is what Jesus did when he gave his life for us.

God forgives us not because he condemned the Just One, but because the Just one gave his life for us. Oh, if we could just see the marvelous truth of the saving Christ, how it would change our affection for Jesus. Peter preaching in Acts 3 says the following:

The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. ~ Acts 3:13-15

It wasn’t God who denied the Holy and Just One, it was the people! We are not forgiven because God punished Christ out of his anger/wrath. We are forgiven because Christ loved us even as the Father loves us, and gave his life to save us. Jesus willingly took the penalty of death when there was no sin in him and by his blood, he redeemed us.

This disposition in Jesus,  was to God a sweet fragrance (Ephesians 5:1-2). And for his sake, God has made us accepted in him, and forgiven us ! Think about this today and let the reality of this beautiful, lovely truth take root into your heart. For Christ’s sake, you belong to God and your sins are forgiven! 

For Christ’s sake your sins are forgiven. For his name’s sake your sins are forgiven.