It’s impossible to fathom how a parent can abuse a child. It’s unthinkable. It’s evil. For that reason some professing Christians reject the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ. They insist a loving God would not have His innocent, beloved Son killed to satisfy His anger over the sins of the world. They call it divine child abuse.
But is that what happened on the cross? Was Christ’s death the act of an out-of-control, self-centered father taking out his un-appeasable anger on a defenseless, hapless boy? No, that’s not was going on.
According to an eternal plan, God the Father, both loving and holy, poured out His righteous wrath upon God the Son who willingly gave His life as a sacrifice for sinners. Substitutionary atonement was an act of God by God for our good and His glory. And for His sacrificial death the Father rewarded the Son – a reward that outweighed the suffering of the cross.
“It was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for sin,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.”
(Isaiah 53:10)
After the crushing, after the grief, after the offering for sin, Christ rose glorious from the grave and He sees with His own eyes the lost sheep for whom He died returning to His beloved Father, redeemed by His blood.
Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday will be here in three weeks. These are realities we celebrate every Sunday and we walk in these truths every day. But Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday are special, yearly occasions to honor the Lord in our hearts and proclaim Him in our community.
Take the time this month to read and meditate on the cross and resurrection of Christ. Talk as a family and with friends about the meaning of His death and resurrection. Thank God for the atonement made for you by His blood. And, invite others to know Him and receive new life.
In Joy, Pastor Paul
