For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.  ~ Romans 4:3

In Romans 1:17 Paul says that the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and in 3:21-26 he begins to unpack the revelation of the righteousness of God that has now been revealed through the gospel.

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. ~ Romans 3:21-26 

For the rest of chapter 3 Paul continues to contend how justification is by faith and not by the works of the Mosaic law. By the time we arrive at Romans 4:3 (cited above), Paul has begun to show how righteousness was imputed to Abraham by believing God. Abraham’s faith was specifically this – He believed God!

Paul hasn’t moved on from his theme of God’s righteousness manifested through the gospel, he’s expounding on it more in detail. Believing the gospel is believing God. Believing in Jesus who died and rose again, is believing God.

What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. ~ Romans 4:1-8

Now consider verses 20 -25

He (Abraham) staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Take note that Paul speaks of believing in him who raised Jesus from the dead. When we believe in Jesus (believe he died for our sins, and rose again) we are believing the testimony which God has set forth about himself in the person of his Son. And just as Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him as righteousness, even so we are justified in the sight of God and through Christ by believing the gospel, wherein the righteousness of God is revealed!

The one who has faith in Jesus believes God, just as Abraham believed God, because God’s testimony of himself is revealed in his Son.

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. ~ Matthew 26: 28

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. ~ Hebrews 9:22

The word remission is a word that we see several times in the New Testament, and it has to do with the forgiveness of sins. In the Old Testament we have numerous accounts of God forgiving sin, and in the New Testament we see Jesus forgiving sin before he died on the cross. It is therefore fair to ask, If God forgave sin in the Old Testament, and Jesus forgave sin in the new, why did Jesus need to be sacrificed on the cross so that our sins could be forgiven?

It is because remission is forgiveness on a legal or judicial level, and not just on a personal offense level. God is a forgiving God because of his love and mercy. However, he is also the Just Judge whose law we have all broken with our sins.

The Greek word translated as remission is aphesis, meaning dismissal, release, pardon. Its usage has to do with, a sending away, a letting go, a release, pardon, complete forgiveness.

In the Strong’s Concordance Word studies helps, it has the same linguistic derivation as aphíēmi, meaning to “send away, forgive”, releasing someone from obligation or debt.

When Jesus died on the cross God dealt with our sins on a divine judicial level, by setting Jesus forth as an atonement sacrifice for all to behold. It’s interesting that the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes wanted to murder Jesus secretly, but because of God’s sovereign wisdom, it did not happen that way. Paul told the Galatians, Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. ~ Galatians 3:1 NLT

God did not allow those who put Jesus to death to hide the affects of our sins. God set him forth for all to see, and Jesus crucified is the the scales of justice by which God judges every man. Paul declares in Acts that God has appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. ~ Acts 17:31

For those who have faith in Jesus, God remits their sins and he is just in doing so, granting them full pardon and justification in his sight unto eternal life, and this is what the remission of sins is about!

If you were to do an internet search of the word propitiation, you would likely find that it is used by some to support their belief that Jesus suffered under the wrath of God. I’d like to present to you why I believe those who do so are being careless with the scriptures, by considering how the scriptures actually use it.

Now, before we look at the meaning of the word propitiation, let’s take a look at the context of every time it is used in the New Testament. Since not every translation of the Bible uses this word, we’ll look at the texts where it is used in the King James Version of the Bible: Romans 3:25, 1 John 2:2, and 1 John 4:10

Let’s consider first, it’s use in Romans 3.

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. ~ Romans 3:21-26

Notice that the overwhelming thought here is the righteousness of God, and justification. Notice also that Christ is said to be a propitiation through faith in his blood. The word propitiation (whatever its meaning) is applicable to us through our faith in the blood of Jesus. It can also be read as through faith, by his blood. Either way, propitiation (whatever it means) is mentioned as something that Christ is for us, in connection to our faith.

Now let’s consider how it is used in 1 John.

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. ~ 1 John 1:5:-2:2

Notice the mention of God’s light, fellowship, and cleansing from all unrighteousness. Notice also the use of the words faithful and just, and the word advocate as a description of Jesus Christ the the righteous One. John says, Jesus Christ the righteous One is the propitiation (whatever it means) for our sins and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Now, let’s consider the use of the word propitiation in 1 John 4.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. ~ 1 John 4:7-11

The word love is mentioned eleven times in the 5 verses referenced above. Whatever propitiation means, God sent Jesus to be that for our sins as an expression of his love, and because of this we ought to love one another. In other words, God’s love in sending Jesus to be our propitiation is the love we are to follow in our relationships with one another.

So what is the meaning of propitiation? Well, in the hellenistic world of the ancient Greeks it does mean appeasement, and a simple definition from a dictionary would likely support this idea. Thus, some will appeal to its use in the Bible as justification for their position that God poured out his wrath on Jesus. However, the Bible wasn’t written with the hellenistic view of false god’s in mind when it describes our relationship with the One True God who sent his Son.

The word that is translated propitiation in the three texts we are considering is the Greek word hilasterion. This Greek word that is used by the Septiguint to describe the mercy seat. The Septuagint is the Greek translation of the Old Testament, and is believed to be the translation often used during the time of Jesus. In Hebrews 9:5 the mercy seat in the tabernacle of Moses is mentioned by the use of the Greek word hilasterion, translated elsewhere as propitiation in the KJV.

The mercy seat was the lid, or covering of the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament. Inside of the Ark of the Covenant were the tables of stone containing the Ten Commandments which God had given through Moses. Each year on the day of Atonement, the blood of the sin offering was applied to the Mercy Seat, and the sins of the people (their breaking of God’s law) was atoned for. This is the idea that is behind the Greek word hilasterion, translated propitiation, when it is used in the New Testament.

Now, let’s look again at the 3 uses of the word propitiation as referenced above. Let’s consider if it makes sense that it is referring to God’s wrath being poured out on Jesus, or does it make more sense in connection to God’s mercy and forgiveness for our sins.

First, consider Romans 3. Jesus is our propitiation through faith in his blood. Should we understand that to mean that Jesus is the object of God’s wrath through our faith, or Jesus is the atoning sacrifice through whom we are forgiven through our faith?

Jesus is the propitiation through our faith.

Does our faith have anything to do with God’s wrath being poured out? Certainly not. But our faith does have something to do with our being forgiven and justified by God. So Christ is our atoning sacrifice, whose blood takes away our sins, by faith! This, the context supports.

Secondly, let’s again consider 1 John 2. Jesus is said to be our propitiation in connection with being our advocate with the Father for the forgiveness of sins, and not ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Is Jesus our advocate when we sin, because of God’s wrath? Or is Jesus our advocate when we sin because of his atoning sacrifice? Remember, John says that it is Jesus Christ, the righteous One who is our advocate with the Father, not Jesus Christ who was condemned by God as the Unrighteous One. This is why the idea that Jesus somehow became unrighteous through the transference of our sins and guilt on the cross, ought to be rejected. God doesn’t pour out wrath on the righteous, and it is Jesus Christ, the righteous One who laid down his life for our sins. Therefore, God is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness when we confess our sins.

Finally, let’s consider the word propitiation in 1 John 4, one more time. The overwhelming thought is God’s love. Because he loved us, God sent his Son to be a propitiation for us. Thus we ought to love one another with the same kind of love. Now, did God demonstrate his love for us by taking out his wrath on Jesus? If so, how does that serve as the example by which we are to show love to others? Earlier in chapter 3, John says, Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. ~ 1 John 3:16

God’s love was expressed by Jesus laying down his life for us, and this example is what we are to follow as we are called to love others as God loved us. God’s love for us wasn’t expressed by his satisfying his anger or wrath. We are not called to be people of wrath. We are called to put away all anger and wrath. We are called to be long-suffering, loving, kind, merciful, and gracious – all which are descriptions of God in connection to Christ’s redeeming work on the cross.

The word propitiation should be understood as atoning sacrifice, in view of Jesus laying down his life as the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus did this to demonstrate God’s love, mercy, and grace towards us, and because Jesus was and is righteous, God declares us righteous through faith in him. In this way, Jesus is our advocate with the Father, and in this way, God can be just in justifying those who have broken his law!

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. ~ Romans 3:24-26

These verses contain the answer, from the perspective of God’s justice, as to why Jesus died on the cross. The New Testament goes into much detail to tell us that Jesus died for us because of God’s love, mercy, and grace.

But what about God’s justice? Where does God’s justice fit into the equation? Let’s go through the the text above and unpack it somewhat. First notice the word justified.

Being justified…

Justified is a judicial term. In Christ we are justified, but how?

… freely by his grace…

Our justification in the sight of God is a gift given to us by God’s grace.

… through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus …

The free gift of grace that justifies us comes through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, i.e, his finished work on the cross.

Whom God set forth…

God set Jesus forth, or presented Jesus to us

… to be a propitiation…

Propitiation in scripture means an atoning sacrifice, a covering for sin, a mercy seat. It does not mean an act of appeasement as it does in pagan sacrifices to appease their gods.

… through faith in his blood … 

Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins through faith in his blood. This text can also be read as, through his blood, by faith. As the one whom God set forth, or presented, Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins through his blood, whom we trust by faith.

… for the remission of sins that are past …

This is where we really begin to get into the judicial side of the cross. God freely forgives sin, but remission in this sense is the cancellation of all the charges that were against us for breaking God’s law. Consider Paul’s words from the book of Colossians:

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross… ~ Colossians 2:13-14

Our sins are forgiven on both a personal level, and a judicial level. God forgives our sins on a personal level because he is a merciful, loving God. He remits our sins on a judicial level by declaring his own righteousness through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. Paul tells us, But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith in Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe… ~ Romans 3:21-22

Faith in Jesus declares God’s righteousness. Thus the righteous of the law is fulfilled through faith in Jesus. And, as Paul says to the Corinthians, God hath made him who to be sin (a sin offering of atonement) for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. In Christ, we are the display of God’s own righteous act that he accomplished through the redemptive work of Christ Jesus our Lord.

… through the forbearance of God…

Through his forbearance (his patience and long-suffering), not wrath.

To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness…

Through his forbearance, God declares his own righteousness through the atoning sacrifice of his Son.

… that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Do you see it?!

God set forth Jesus as the atoning sacrifice for sin, so that he could be Just, in justifying the one who has faith in Jesus! Hallelujah !!!!!!

And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people. ~ Matthew 26:1-4 

Those who were plotting Jesus’s death had gathered together secretly in an effort to put a plan together as to how to pull it off. Their plot wasn’t put into motion until Judas approached them with an offer to betray Jesus to them.

In John 10 Jesus had declared,  No man taketh my life  from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. ~ v. 18

When we read the gospel accounts we find that even though Judas was a traitor, he didn’t betray Jesus until Jesus told him, “That thou doest, do quickly” ~ John 13:27. This happened during the last Supper, and the next day was Passover. Judas then went out and betrayed Jesus to them, and they arrested Jesus that same night.

Now, I want you to notice the plan devised by the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders, along with Caiaphas the high priest. When they discussed how they could take Jesus and put him to death, they agreed not to do it on the feast day, which was Passover.

They were cowards and had no justification for condemning Jesus. They simply hated him without a cause as Jesus says to his disciples in John 15. They wanted to kill him subtily, because the truth in Jesus was a threat to their corrupt religious dominance over the people. The plot to avoid the Passover failed. They were prisoners of the powers of darkness, the very power of darkness that did not understand the mystery of God, for had they known they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Jesus died at their hands, but the timing was in Jesus’s hands. It was at the time ordained by God, because Jesus is the Passover lamb who takes away the sins of the world.

Though they plotted to kill him secretly, it happened out in the open for all to see. Jesus died in God’s timing, not theirs. When Jesus was crucified, he gave up the ghost at the exact moment that the Passover lamb was to be slain, his body was taken down from the cross and rested in the tomb the next day on the first day of unleavened bread which was also the Sabbath. He rose from the dead on the third day which was also the first day of the week, and the day of the feast of first-fruits on the ancient Jewish calendar.

May God give us all more insights into the wonders of cross.

And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men. And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. ~ Mark 8:31-38

From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. ~ Matthew 16:21-28

The references above give us the record of Jesus’ introduction of the cross to his disciples. Matthew tells us that Jesus began to show his disciples how he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things which would result in his death and resurrection. Mark, on the other hand, says “he began to teach them”. 

When we examine the context to Jesus’s introduction of the cross to his disciples, we see that there is no mention of atonement, although we know that Jesus’s death did indeed make atonement for our sins.

What we find however, is a truth that should help shape our understanding of Christ’s death on the cross and the resurrection that followed. Buried within the context of this introduction to the cross, is the denial of self. Notice that Peter’s response to Jesus was rebuked by Jesus, because Peter’s response came from a place of self preservation – Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

Jesus not only rebuked Peter because he was speaking in this manner about Jesus, but Jesus takes it a step further and says, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. This first lesson of the cross was not about what Jesus would do for for us, only. It was also about our calling as followers of Jesus. At the very foundation of the cross of Christ was his denial of himself (his own will), and the message is for us to do the same.

Recently, I have been struck by the thought of how often Jesus would mention the necessity of fulfilling the scriptures within the context of his death. Consider the following:

And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. ~ Mark 9:12

Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. ~ Luke 18:31

The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. ~ Matthew 26:24

Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. ~ Matthew 26:31

For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. ~ Luke 22:37 

Then said Jesus unto him (Peter), Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. ~ Matthew: 26:52-57

Jesus obeyed God fully on a personal, relational level. Yet his obedience to the will of God was very much tied to his surrender to what the scriptures had foretold concerning the Messiah. Even though the scriptures had spoken of his death at the hands of men, Jesus seems to imply that he could have have been delivered from the hour of his passion when he says, Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

The scriptures had foretold that the Messiah would be rejected by the people, and exalted by God. Jesus had to lay down his life and rise again for the Word of God to be fulfilled. This is why Peter’s assertion of self preservation was so offensive to Jesus. The first lesson of the cross by Jesus to his disciples was that of denying yourself. This is what Jesus did when he went to the cross and fulfilled the scriptures, he denied himself, and in doing so he led the way that we might do the same.

May God open to us the rich treasures of the power of the cross. 

The belief that God punished Jesus in our place advocates that there was a behind the scenes exchange between God and Jesus, whereby Jesus suffered rejection from God, and/or experienced God’s wrath. The premise of this view is that the physical death of Jesus at the hands of sinful men was not sufficient for our salvation, and something more was needed, namely divine punishment, or else the cross would not have been efficacious in saving us. Jesus had to suffer spiritually under God’s condemnation in some manner. There had to be an exchange.

When I began to deal with this ideology within my own beliefs, it took quite some time to work through all the verses that seem to support it. If Jesus didn’t suffer condemnation from God, what is the meaning of Paul when he says that Jesus was made a curse for us, and Isaiah when he says, it pleased the Lord to bruise him.

I remember toiling over what Paul said, and how I understood it, as I was embracing what Jesus had taught his disciples. When I began to embrace and teach what Jesus had taught the men he trained as apostles, my understanding of the gospel grew tremendously.

Interestingly, I have found that when I present the cross from the vantage point of what Jesus said, and what his first apostles taught, I have two completely different responses from Christians. When online, Christians can get very defensive towards me, and almost reject me as a heretic or a false teacher. In person, I have had a different experience, especially if it’s in a class setting.

About 3 months ago, a fellow who doesn’t know me, took it upon himself to rebuke me in an online setting, and among other things, he wrote the following:

I perceive that you are earnest in your desire for truth and refutation of error. As you, yourself, know, it is a fearful thing to undertake to teach God’s word to others and those who do will be held to stricter judgment. Given this, I would be remiss if I didn’t entreat you to earnestly reconsider what you are teaching others with regard to the atonement of Christ, lest at the last you find yourself on the wrong side of truth.

If believing the words of Jesus, which now stands as the foundation of all I teach about the cross, can put me on the wrong side of truth, then that’s a chance I will just have to take. I’d rather my understanding of the cross of Christ be developed by what Jesus and his apostles said, rather than what Calvin or Luther said.

His comment to me is not unusual. It’s typical of the replies I have received from people online. I once had another person on social media express their disapproval when I stated that Jesus had been murdered. Yet this is exactly what Stephen said in Acts 7 when he told the Jewish religious authorities that they had been betrayers and murders of the Just One.

He had an issue with me describing the death of Jesus exactly as Stephen in scripture had. Now, think about that. Let that resonate for a moment. His view of the cross made him think that I was off the mark because I described the cross as Stephen had.

How is it that we can all know that Judas betrayed Jesus into the hands of sinful men who had been plotting to kill him and not understand that Jesus’s death was a murder? How is it that we don’t get honest with ourselves and question our theological views and ask the question, If Jesus was murdered, and he was, how does this satisfy the justice of God?

If Jesus’s crucifixion resulted from his being betrayed, and it would have been better for Judas to have never been born than to betray Jesus, how does this involve the justice of God’s against Jesus?

These are the kind of questions I asked myself as I was unlearning some of the erroneous things I had embraced in my theological view. I have for a long time held to the opinion that you have no basis for doctrine until all the scriptures, or at least the majority of the scriptures on the topic, harmonize.

Now, my experience with people in person (in conversations and in class settings) have been quite different from online forums, because in person, I can walk them through the scriptures and show them exactly what Jesus and his original apostles said. I can also show them what Paul actually preached and how Paul’s gospel is the same as that declared by Jesus and the original apostles. Without fail, they jump on board with me because the scriptures convince them.

Once, while teaching a Bible School class in London, I taught this very topic. I am better at communicating as a preacher/teacher in person than I am as a writer. Anyway, during the first hour, I challenged some of the beliefs that many of us have long held, including myself. As we took a break between the first and second hour, there was a buzz among the students.

When we began the second hour, I took them through the scriptures, beginning with Jesus and continuing through the sermons preached in Acts. Somewhere in the process (it didn’t take very long), they were all on board. I don’t remember a single one of them not jumping on board with me. I can say with confidence that it was probably the first time someone had ever taken them through the narrative and showed them exactly what Jesus said about his death and what the apostles preached. As I was teaching, a lady suddenly overcome with the joy of the truth she was seeing from scripture, abruptly blurted out “where (or how) did you learn all this?!”

That is what revelation of the truth does. It causes a rejoicing in the heart at the discovery of truth, and it nurtures a desire for more. This was happening to her in that class.

So how did I learn this? Well, I had been a student of the cross for many years. The emphasis of my teachings for much of my ministry had been the blood of Jesus and the cross. My heart’s desire was to understand the power of the blood of Jesus. As a young man, I had some serious struggles, and there came a point when I knew that my victory over those struggles would come as I developed strong through faith in the blood of Christ. It’s somewhat of a long story, so I won’t  go into it here, but I began a journey of studying, praying, and listening to anyone who had any sort of understanding about the cross and the blood of Christ.

The most influential minister in my journey became the writings of Andrew Murray (I won’t go into how Murray’s writings helped me here), but suffice to say, I flourished in my understanding after being introduced to his writings.

As I continued on my journey I heard a Bible scholar, whom I have come to absolutely love, say something that I have never heard anyone else say. He was commenting about a particular book that had come out, which apologetically defended the theological view of the cross known as Penal Substitutionary Atonement. I had a copy of the book, and still have it.

He made the observation that these authors (it was co-authored), had cited this theologian, and that theologian, and even had cited Paul, but they had given very little attention to Jesus. And he made the comment, “What did Jesus say about his death?”

In roughly 20 years of study, and preaching, and teaching about the cross, I had never seriously considered what Jesus said, other than the verses from the Last Supper, and the references of giving his life as a ransom. I didn’t place much emphasis on Jesus’s description of his death. In fact, I didn’t even think that Jesus had anything of real importance to say because he didn’t address the behind the scenes narrative that so many of us tend to embrace. Like many people, I thought that Paul, and pretty much Paul alone, was the expert who had the spiritual insight into what happened at the cross.

I think my beliefs had been greatly influenced by the theology of E.W. Kenyon who is considered by many as father of the Word of Faith Movement. As a young man, I embraced the teachings of the Word of Faith movement, and Kenyon was held in high esteem as having great spiritual insights among the leading WOF ministers. Kenyon did have some good teachings, but he is also had some bad teachings, mixing metaphysics with the teachings of scripture.

Allow me to share with you a portion of what Kenyon taught about the cross, and as you read it, be honest and ask yourself if you interpret scripture similarly. I am not talking about the conclusion Kenyon came to, but how he got there. Below is a brief excerpt from Kenyon’s teachings taken from his book – The Bible in the Light of Our Redemption. I had a copy of this book (I may still have it), and I copied the following myself. I have added capps for emphasis only.

Kenyon states the following:

The disciples knew THE MEANING of the Crucifixion of Christ, his burial, and his resurrection, ONLY THROUGH THEIR PHYSICAL SENSES. They saw the beating of Christ; they saw the nails driven into his hands and feet. They heard his words, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me.” They saw and handled his body in the process of embalming it, as it was laid away for burial. They saw the stone rolled away from the tomb and the empty grave clothes. They saw and handled the resurrected body of Christ. They saw him ascend into heaven.This physical knowledge, however, gave them NO INSIGHT INTO THE MEANING OF THE SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. In the crucifixion of Christ, they saw only his physical suffering. THEY KNEW NOTHING of the spiritual suffering of Christ as HIS SPIRIT was made sin. THEY KNEW NOT where Christ’s spirit was or what he was doing during the time his physical body lay in the tomb. THEY KNEW NOTHING of the conquering of Satan by Christ in his resurrection. THEY KNEW NOTHING of the ascension of Christ with his own blood into the Holy of Holies. THEY KNEW NOTHING of the ministry of Christ at the Father’s right hand AFTER HE LEFT THEM.

Now, don’t focus on the conclusions Kenyon reached about what he thought Paul understood. This is not why I shared what Kenyon said. I want you to take note of how he read the scriptures.

Kenyon read the scriptures as if the disciples who walked with Jesus didn’t know what they were talking about on a spiritual level when they testified of the death of Jesus. Kenyon even implies they didn’t understand the resurrection on a spiritual level.

Now, consider the following statement I recently copied from someone else, and notice how he reads the New Testament, much like Kenyon, even though he likely comes to a different conclusion.

The “preaching of the cross” was the distinctive message of the Apostle Paul. It was the gospel he preached, that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead for our salvation ( 1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Paul’s gospel was faith + 0. Neither the Twelve nor the other writers of the New Testament preached this gospel until they learned about it from Paul. And, as a result, Paul’s gospel, his “preaching of the cross,” precipitated a great crisis among the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem that resulted in the Council of Jerusalem (c. 51 A.D.) The goal of this study is to examine Paul’s message and how it was unique to his ministry as the “apostle to the Gentiles.”

Notice that this author actually says, Neither the Twelve nor the other writers of the New Testament preached this gospel until they learned about it from Paul.

Well, what in the world were they preaching in Acts then?!

If the apostles didn’t preach the gospel, then they would have been false apostles. In fact Peter stood up at the Jerusalem council and said, God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

Paul wasn’t the first to take the gospel to the Gentiles, Peter was. Peter was sent to Cornelius’s house in Acts 10 (at that time Paul was testifying to the Jews), and Peter preached the very same message about Jesus to Cornelius’s house as he had been preaching since the Day of Pentecost. He preached the gospel message he learned from Jesus, not Paul!

It is absolutely absurd to think that the original apostles did not understand what the gospel was until they heard it from Paul.

This is why it is so important how we read scripture. I tend to think that If a lot of Christians were to be brutally honest, they would have to admit they sort of read the New Testament through the same lens as Kenyon and the other fellow cited above. They would have to admit their thinking about the cross has been shaped along similar lines.

So I ask you, what did Jesus say about his death, and does it matter for us today? Are the words of Jesus, and what he told his disciples about his death, which the disciples preached in Acts, important?

If I were to ask you to stop what you are doing right now and tell me what Jesus had to say about his death both before and after his resurrection, what would you tell me? Could you share the truth of the gospel with another person using only what Jesus said about his death?

Furthermore, would you have a greater appreciation and a greater understanding of the resurrection if you considered more earnestly what Jesus said?  Knowing what I know now, I would say yes! You would. The resurrection takes on a whole new and more glorious meaning when Jesus’s words become the foundation of how you interpret the cross. The gospel preached in Acts by Peter, and Stephen are an extension of what Jesus said.

I can honestly say that I can now stand up anywhere, and teach on the cross from any text that references the cross, and not contradict because the whole counsel of scripture on this topic harmonizes in my understanding. I don’t say this to brag, God forbid, but I have worked through the texts and now every scripture I know of in the gospels, in Acts, in Paul’s writings, and the rest of the New Testament, all harmonize, and I can’t find an angry God who used Judas and the chief priests to do his outward dirty work, anywhere.

At the cross, it was grace that saved us, not wrath being satisfied. Paul even tells us in Titus, that after the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, he saved us.

It truly is a wonderful, and joyous experience to be able to preach the truth of the gospel form Isaiah 53, Psalm 22, anywhere in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts, along with Romans 3- 6, Galatians 3, 1 Peter 2, the book of Hebrews, Ephesians, Colossians, and anywhere else we read about the cross and have the truth of the scriptures harmonize.

I am not saying I have perfect understanding, or that I have a complete grasp on all that scripture teaches about Christ’s redemption (there is so much to learn and to glean). I will never learn it all in this life. I continue to grow. I have more to learn than I currently know.

What I am saying is I now have an understanding of the cross in which the whole counsel of scripture does harmonize. I don’t have to ignore what Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, or what Stephen preached in Acts 7, because those texts harmonize with what Paul said to the Ephesians.

Paul’s word’s where he declares that Jesus was made a curse for us, and our old man is crucified with Christ now harmonizes with the narrative that Jesus died an unjust death at the hands of sinful men. I don’t have to ignore what Jesus and the original apostles said because of what I think Paul said.

Thank you for listening, and I hope that what I have written will provoke you in a good way. Blessings.

For He has not subjected to angels the world to come that we are talking about. But one has somewhere testified: What is man that You remember him, or the son of man that You care for him? You made him lower than the angels for a short time; You crowned him with glory and honor and subjected everything under his feet. For in subjecting everything to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. As it is, we do not yet see everything subjected to him. But we do see Jesus—made lower than the angels for a short time so that by God’s grace He might taste death for everyone—crowned with glory and honor because of His suffering in death. For in bringing many sons to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—all things exist for Him and through Him—should make the source] of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying: I will proclaim Your name to My brothers; I will sing hymns to You in the congregation. Again, I will trust in Him. And again, Here I am with the children God gave Me. Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the Devil— and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. For it is clear that He does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham’s offspring. Therefore, He had to be like His brothers in every way, so that He could become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tested and has suffered, He is able to help those who are tested. ~ Hebrews 2:5-18 (HCSB) Note: the word propitiation above can also be translated as atonement.

There is a lot in this set of verses. First, consider that Jesus is the one that we see crowned with glory and honor. But why? According to the writer of Hebrews, it is because of the things he suffered for us.

I won’t you to consider with me that the writer of Hebrews makes no mention of any condemnation, judgment, or punishment from God when he references the things that Jesus suffered. On the contrary, he tells us that by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone,  and he did so for the purpose of being perfected as the Captain of our Salvation, and to become our merciful and faithful High Priest.

It was the will of God for Jesus to experience the depths, sorrows, pain, despair, and trauma of human suffering – to be made like his brethren in all things – so that he might become the perfect representative for humanity in the presence of God.

The writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus did this so that he could declare God’s name to his brothers (and of course his sisters). Have you ever considered why there is unfailing faithfulness to God within the heart of so many believers who have suffered much? Where does such faithfulness come from? It comes for the Spirit of Jesus, who declares to the heart the faithfulness of God, even in the midst of human suffering.

The writer of Hebrews also tells us that Jesus shared in our human experience so that he could destroy the one holding the power of death – that is the devil, and in doing so he frees us who were all our lifetime held in slavery by the fear of death.

Consider for a moment Jesus’s human experience. Jesus was betrayed by one of his own disciples that he appointed as an apostle. Have you ever been betrayed? It’s very painful isn’t it? Jesus knows the feeling.

Jesus’s crucifixion would have never happened if he had not been betrayed by Judas. The scriptures of the prophets had foretold that it would happen this way. The Jewish authorities had wanted to kill him for some time, and Jesus knew this. Imagine what it’s like living among those who hate you and want to kill you. Jesus experienced this.

After this, Jesus traveled in Galilee, since He did not want to travel in Judea because the Jews were trying to kill Him. ~ John 7: 1

Didn’t Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law! Why do you want to kill Me?” ~ John 7:19

I know you are descendants of Abraham, but you are trying to kill Me because My word is not welcome among you. ~ John 8:37

But now you are trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do this! ~ John 8:40

Notice the indictment that Jesus gives them. They wanted to kill him because his word was not in them, because they did not want the truth in him, and because they were not Abraham’s true children. Nevertheless they could not touch his life because his hour in which he would lay it down, had not yet come.

Then they tried to seize Him. Yet no one laid a hand on Him because His hour had not yet come. ~ John 7:30

He spoke these words by the treasury, while teaching in the temple complex. But no one seized Him, because His hour had not come. ~ John  8:20

It wasn’t until Satan entered into the heart of Judas that the crucifixion was set in motion.

Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. Now by the time of supper, the Devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray Him. Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into His hands, that He had come from God, and that He was going back to God. So He got up from supper, laid aside His robe, took a towel, and tied it around Himself. Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him. ~ John 13:1-5

I want you to notice from the text above that Satan put it into the heart of Judas to betray Jesus. I also want you to notice that Jesus knew that the Father had put everything into his hands. It was at this point that Jesus took off his robe and tied a towel around himself,as a servant (though he was Lord) and began washing his disciples’ feet.

This is what the cross is all about. The King of glory, who has authority over all things, took the place of the lowliest servant so that he might have compassion on all. This is the work of grace that God was perfecting in the humanity of his Son, Jesus. Now, consider the following from the same chapter in John’s gospel.

“I assure you: A slave is not greater than his master,  and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. I’m not speaking about all of you; I know those I have chosen. But the Scripture must be fulfilled: The one who eats My bread has raised his heel against Me. “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. I assure you: Whoever receives anyone I send receives Me, and the one who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” When Jesus had said this, He was troubled in His spirit and testified, “I assure you: One of you will betray Me!” The disciples started looking at one another—uncertain which one He was speaking about. One of His disciples, the one Jesus loved, was reclining close beside Jesus. Simon Peter motioned to him to find out who it was He was talking about. So he leaned back against Jesus and asked Him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus replied, “He’s the one I give the piece of bread to after I have dipped it.” When He had dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son. After Judas ate the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Therefore Jesus told him, “What you’re doing, do quickly.” None of those reclining at the table knew why He told him this. Since Judas kept the money-bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival,” or that he should give something to the poor. After receiving the piece of bread, he went out immediately. And it was night. ~ John 13:16-30 

I want you to see that even though Satan had entered the heart of Judas, it wasn’t until Jesus told him, “What you are doing, do quickly” that Judas went out and betrayed him to the chief priests.

Jesus had said in John 10, “I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep, and they know Me, as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. I lay down My life for the sheep. But I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves Me, because I am laying down My life so I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from My Father.” ~ John 10:14-18

Jesus was fully God, and fully human. Satan had no power to touch his life until he laid it down. Though Jesus had all spiritual authority, he experienced human pain and suffering. He experienced rejection, hate, and betrayal. He entered the dark experience of human suffering when he laid down his life.

When Judas led a mob to arrest Jesus, Jesus said the following to them.

Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal? Every day while I was with you in the temple complex, you never laid a hand on Me. But this is your hour—and the dominion of darkness.” ~ Luke 22: 52-53

The KJV says the power of darkness. We know this is a reference to Satan’s Kingdom because it was Satan who entered Judas’s heart to betray Jesus. The four gospels give us the vivid details of the dark powers working through the people as Jesus was betrayed, condemned by the Jewish leaders, falsely accused, placed on trial, rejected by the people, beaten, publicly humiliated, and crucified.

The writer of Hebrews describes the sufferings of Christ as testing by which he was perfected through suffering.

For in bringing many sons to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—all things exist for Him and through Him—should make the source of their salvation perfect through sufferings. ~ Hebrews 2:10

For since He Himself was tested and has suffered, He is able to help those who are tested. ~ Hebrews 2:18

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin. ~ Hebrews 4:15

During His earthly life, He offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the One who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. Though He was God’s Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. After He was perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him… ~ Hebrews 5;7-9

What God accomplished in Christ as our intercessor and High Priest, and through Christ as our sacrifice and offering, is referred to by Paul as a mystery which was hidden and kept secret from previous generations. Paul says, None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, for if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. ~ 1 Corinthians 2:8

Paul’s words are consistent with the narrative we see in the gospels and Jesus’s declaration to those who arrested him,  “this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

It wasn’t God who betrayed Jesus by turning his back on him and condemning him. It was Judas, and those who were under the influence of the power of darkness who did that. This is why the apostles spoke so strongly in the Acts showing how even though the people had unjustly condemned the Just one, and murdered him, as Stepehen described it, the grave could not hold him because God raised him from the dead!

God did not send Jesus to the cross because he was angry with sinners. God sent Jesus to the cross because God loved sinners, and to perfect Jesus for us as a High Priest who knows the real pain of human suffering, who can intercede as one who is compassionate and merciful, and touched with the feeling of our infirmities.

It is not God who betrays, hates, and kills. It is the power of darkness, and in his death, Jesus overcame the power of darkness when he by the grace of God tasted death for every man. Now we are overcomers through him who loved us and gave himself for us. God was not substitutionally punishing his dying son, God was in him reconciling the world and perfecting his Son as our great High Priest, through whom God’s everlasting love, compassion, mercy, and grace could give us hope, strength, eternal life!

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

He did not even spare His own Son but offered Him up for us all; how will He not also with Him grant us everything? Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect?

God is the One who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the One who died, but even more, has been raised; He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: Because of You we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord! ~ Romans 8:31-39

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.