When we talk about Easter, our mind likely (and rightly) go first to the cross and the blood shed for the redemption of our sins, and second to Sunday’s empty tomb and the resurrection of life that brings us new life. Hallelujah!
But I am struck this year, thinking about the sacrifice of Christ, by an aspect of his sacrifice that we may not typically spend time thinking about, and that is this: that on the cross—in the beatings, the whippings, the unfathomable pain, the mental and emotional anguish, the blood loss—the wrath of God was poured out on Jesus for the salvation of spiritually fallen, wicked, sinful man.
Adam’s sin in the garden, and the subsequent sin of all mankind because of it (Romans 5:12) has set mankind at odds with the only holy Lord and God of all creation. Sin brought not only the necessity of man’s physical death, but the reality of spiritual death as well. Ephesians 2:1 literally says that mankind is “dead in” sin. However, not only is man dead in sin, he is the object of God’s wrath.
The Bible says that the wrath of God is coming against sin and the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 5:6, Colossians 3:6). Much of the book of Revelation reveals the reserving of God’s wrath (Revelation 15:7) that will come on wicked, sinful, unredeemed mankind (Revelation 6:16-17). Romans 1:18 says that “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. Romans 2:8 says, “but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth…there will be wrath and fury.” Jesus himself said, John 3:36, “whoever does not obey in the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
Something more than the mere forgiveness of man’s sin needed to take place. I say more than mere forgiveness because certainly nothing less than the forgiveness of sin needed to happen. But words cannot describe how much of a problem sin is; the Father’s wrath against sin needed to be satisfied. And the solution was determined in eternity past.
Isaiah 53 gives us the best glimpse of that eternal agreement between the Father and the Son and, in graphic detail, tells what happened on the cross to settle God’s wrath:
Vs. 5, “He was pierced…he was crushed…the chastisement for our peace was upon him” (NKJV)
Vs. 6, “Yahweh…laid on him the iniquity of us all” (LSB)
Vs. 10, “Yahweh was pleased to crush him, putting him to grief” (LSB)
Vs. 12, “he poured out his soul to death” (ESV)
The eternal Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, gave his life (John 10:15, 17-18) not only as a redemptive ransom (Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, Ephesians 1:7) but as propitiation (Romas 3:25, 1 John 2:2, 4:10) to appease God’s wrath against sin for all who call on the name of the Lord.
New life comes freely to all who believe, to all who obey God, to all who repent of sin and call on the name of the Lord. That new life is free for you and me because it was paid for by another; it cost God his only Son, and it cost Jesus his life. And they both paid gladly. And it is that very transaction that has me bewildered this Easter season. Praise God that the Good News doesn’t end in the death of Christ and the wrath of God being poured out on him! But praise God that Christ bore the wrath of God for sinful man, that through faith we might become the righteousness of God.
Grace & Peace,
John White
You can reach the elders anytime by email, call, or text at:
Jon Collins, jcollins@thevillagemi.com, (810) 869-3949
John White, jwhite@thevillagemi.com, (810) 275-4267