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The Crucifixion Of Christ #255 - April 06, 2007
As we approach what has been called Good Friday and Easter, we wonder why it could be a Good Friday. After all, almost 2000 years ago it was really a black Friday. It was the time of the death of the Son of God. Yet this was no ordinary death. This death opened the way into the presence of God. Matthew 27:50-51 exclaims, "Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom." Could a mere man pay the infinite price due to God for sins and gain access into God's presence for a host of others? No! Men and women spending eternity in hell will always have to spend more time in that awful place to fulfill the debt they owe for their sins. Who could make adequate payment for the sins of human beings? Only a perfect human being. Only a human being actually united to divinity could be a perfect sacrifice.
But Jesus Christ was and is both God and man in two distinct natures in one person. With reference to divinity, Jesus Christ was and is fully God. With reference to humanity, Jesus Christ was fully human with a body and soul just like yours. Yet Jesus Christ was one person. He was and is the God-man. This Jesus laid aside the prerogatives of heaven for a time. He laid them aside to enter the world as a babe in Bethlehem. He laid them aside for a time to walk the dusty trails of Galilee. He laid them aside for a time to die. God cannot die. But a perfect death was essential if adequate payment was to be made for the sins of men and women like us. So the God-man died. And that black Friday became the best of all possible times for those who trust in the death of Jesus.
For a free audiotape on this subject, call 1-800-777-0389
email: [email protected]; or visit: Word for the Week
As we approach what has been called Good Friday and Easter, we wonder why it could be a Good Friday. After all, almost 2000 years ago it was really a black Friday. It was the time of the death of the Son of God. Yet this was no ordinary death. This death opened the way into the presence of God. Matthew 27:50-51 exclaims, "Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom." Could a mere man pay the infinite price due to God for sins and gain access into God's presence for a host of others? No! Men and women spending eternity in hell will always have to spend more time in that awful place to fulfill the debt they owe for their sins. Who could make adequate payment for the sins of human beings? Only a perfect human being. Only a human being actually united to divinity could be a perfect sacrifice.
But Jesus Christ was and is both God and man in two distinct natures in one person. With reference to divinity, Jesus Christ was and is fully God. With reference to humanity, Jesus Christ was fully human with a body and soul just like yours. Yet Jesus Christ was one person. He was and is the God-man. This Jesus laid aside the prerogatives of heaven for a time. He laid them aside to enter the world as a babe in Bethlehem. He laid them aside for a time to walk the dusty trails of Galilee. He laid them aside for a time to die. God cannot die. But a perfect death was essential if adequate payment was to be made for the sins of men and women like us. So the God-man died. And that black Friday became the best of all possible times for those who trust in the death of Jesus.
For a free audiotape on this subject, call 1-800-777-0389
email: [email protected]; or visit: Word for the Week
