The Cross of Christ # 4

The Cross of Christ # 4

People seem to forget that all Christ's sufferings on the Cross were fore-ordained. They did not come on Him by chance or accident - they were all planned, counseled, and determined from all eternity. The Cross was foreseen in all the provisions of the everlasting Trinity for the salvation of sinners. In the purposes of God the Cross was set up from everlasting. Not one throb of pain did Jesus feel, not one precious drop of blood did Jesus shed, which had not been appointed long ago. Infinite wisdom planned that redemption should be by the Cross. Infinite wisdom brought Jesus to the Cross in due time. He was crucified "by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God" (Acts 2:23).

People seem to forget that all Christ's sufferings on the Cross were necessary for man's salvation. He had to bear our sins, if ever they were to be born at all. With His stripes alone could we be healed. This was the one payment of our debt that God would accept - this was the great sacrifice on which our eternal life depended. If Christ had not gone to the Cross and suffered in our stead, the just for the unjust, there would not have been a spark of hope for us. There would have been a mighty gulf between ourselves and God, which no man ever could have passed.

"In Christ's humiliation stands our exaltation; in His weakness stands our strength; in His ignominy our glory; in His death our life".

"The eye of faith regards Christ sitting on the summit of the Cross as in a triumphal chariot; the devil bound to the lowest part of the same Cross, and trodden under the feet of Christ."

People seem to forget that all Christ's sufferings were endured voluntarily, and of His own free will. He was under no compulsion. Of His  own choice He laid down His life - of His own choice He went to the Cross in order to finish the work He came to do. He might easily have summoned legions of angels with a word, and scattered Pilate and Herod, and all their armies, like chaff before the wind. But He was a willing sufferer, His heart was set on the salvation of sinners. He was resolved to open "a fountain for all sin and uncleanness," by shedding His own blood. (Zech. 13:1).

When I think of all this, I see nothing painful or disagreeable in the subject of Christ's Cross. On the contrary, I see in it wisdom and power, peace and hope, joy and gladness, comfort and consolation. The more I keep the Cross in my mind's eye, the more fullness I seem to discern in it. The longer I dwell on the Cross in my thoughts, the more I am satisfied that there is more to be learned at the foot of the Cross than anywhere else in the world.

(a) Would I know the length and breadth of God the Father's love towards a sinful world? Where shall I see it most displayed? Shall I look at His glorious sun, shining down daily on the unthankful and evil? Shall I look at seed-time and harvest, returning in regular yearly succession? Oh, no! I can find a stronger proof of love than anything of this sort. I look at the Cross of Christ. I see in it not the cause of the Father's love - but the effect. There I see that God so loved this wicked world, that He gave His only begotten Son - gave Him to suffer and die - that "whoever believes in Him should not perish - but have eternal life" (John 3:16). I know that the Father loves us, because He did not withhold from us His Son, His only Son. I might sometimes fancy that God the Father is too high and holy to care for such miserable, corrupt creatures as we are! But I cannot, must not, dare not think it, when I look at the Cross of Christ.

"The world we live in would have fallen upon our heads, had it not been upheld by the pillar of the Cross; had not Christ stepped in and promised a satisfaction for the sin of man. By this all things consist - not a blessing we enjoy but may put us in mind of it; they were all forfeited by sin - but merited by His blood. If we study it well we shall be sensible how God hated sin and loved a world" (Charnock).

(b) Would I know how exceedingly sinful and abominable sin is in the sight of God? Where shall I see that most fully brought out? Shall I turn to the history of the flood, and read how sin drowned the world? Shall I go to the shore of the Dead Sea, and mark what sin brought on Sodom and Gomorrah? Shall I turn to the wandering Jews, and observe how sin has scattered them over the face of the earth? No! I can find a clearer proof still! I look at the Cross of Christ. There I see that sin is so black and damnable, that nothing but the blood of God's own Son can wash it away. There I see that sin has so separated me from my holy Maker, that all the angels in heaven could never have made peace between us. Nothing could reconcile us, short of the death of Christ. If I listened to the wretched talk of proud people, I might sometimes fancy sin was not so very sinful! But I cannot think little of sin, when I look at the Cross of Christ.

(c) Would I know the fullness and completeness of the salvation God has provided for sinners? Where shall I see it most distinctly? Shall I go to the general declarations in the Bible about God's mercy? Shall I rest in the general truth that God is a God of love? Oh no! I will look at the Cross of Christ. I find no evidence like that. I find no balm for a sore conscience and a troubled heart, like the sight of Jesus dying for me on the accursed tree. There I see that a full payment has been made for all my enormous debts. The curse of that law which I have broken has come down on One who there suffered in my stead. The demands of  that law are all satisfied. Payment has been made for me, even to the uttermost farthing. It will not be required twice over. Ah, I might sometimes imagine I was too bad to be forgiven! My own heart sometimes whispers that I am too wicked to be saved. But I know in my better moments this is all my foolish unbelief. I read an answer to my doubts in the blood shed on Calvary. I feel sure that there is a way to heaven for the very vilest of people, when I look at the Cross.

(d) Would I find strong reasons for being a holy man? Where shall I turn for them? Shall I listen to the ten commandments merely? Shall I study the examples given me in the Bible of what grace can do? Shall I meditate on the reward of heaven, and the punishments of hell? Is there no stronger motive still? Yes! I will look at the Cross of Christ! There I see the love of Christ constraining me to "live not unto myself - but unto Him". There I see that I am not my own now - I am "bought with a price" (2 Cor. 5:15); 1 Cor. 6:20). I am bound by the most solemn obligations to glorify Jesus with body and spirit, which are His. There I see that Jesus gave Himself for me, not only to redeem me from all iniquity - but also to purify me, and to make me one of a "peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14). He bore my sins in His own body on the tree, "that I being dead unto sin should live unto righteousness" (1 Peter 2:24). There is nothing so sanctifying as a clear view of the Cross of Christ! It crucifies the world unto us, and us unto the world. How can we love sin, when we remember that because of our sins Jesus died? Surely none ought to be so holy as the disciples of a crucified Lord.

~J. C. Ryle~

(continued with # 5)