The Glory of the Cross

The single answer for the glory of the cross must be found in the "Death of God." But not just in the "Death of God" but in "Death by God." God the Father sacrificed God the Son. The Father Himself made the soul of His only begotten Son an offering for sin. A Father with a throbbing heart took pleasure in beholding the stream of life – Divine life mixed with human life – issuing forth as a fountain to all His creation. It is a stream that cannot be quenched. Its glory can transform the darkest sinner and will ultimately transform a corrupted universe. Every visage of the flood of evil that issues from the angelic and human fall will be externally vanquished and obliterated. "It is finished" (John 19:30b).

Mixing the Divine with the human must be understood as being void of the nature of sin. The human could become an offering to God for sin because it was perfect human with Divine blood. The Father himself sanctified a human vessel that could bear all the fullness of His Holy Spirit. When the Son of God was dying on the cross, all the Godhead – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – were a part of that moment in time. The powers of all that God is came to bear in perfect redemption. God in Christ was redeeming the universe. If I may add again, "It is finished" (John 19:30b).

In the Garden of Gethsemane the Son of God already perfectly understood the events of the hours leading to the moment of His death. The Word of God said, "Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth" (John 18:4a). The full anger of wickedness, the jealousy of false religions, the spitefulness of bankrupt human government, and the total expression of fallen angels and fallen men were going to fulfill their vengeance. If redemption was going to be complete. He had to pay for every manifested expression of sin. All of this fell upon Him in this garden of agony. Upon one human body, even perfect and without sin, would be transferred by the Father Himself the total guilt of transgressed holiness throughout the created world.

For a short period of time, as He prayed, He was riddled with fear from such a mountain of transferred guilt that He cried out under the wrath of His Father against all wickedness that was to fall on Him, the Father’s only begotten Son. What a contradiction of judgment — God Himself paying the price of the creature’s sins. Utter brokenness gripped His overloaded Holy frame. He cried, "Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42). Immediately the Father dispatched an angel to strengthen Him. The description of His overwhelming state continues, "And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground" (Luke 22:44). The cells of His body could not hold back the sacrificial blood (Divine blood) that seeped from His sweat glands. Redemption had begun.

The Biblical principles of atonement demanded that He be betrayed by His own followers. One of His chosen twelve led the religious mob that came to arrest Him. There is no pain much greater than offended love. The Father’s plan directed the way of the cross by allowing the worst of evil and blasphemy to accost the Lamb of God at every stop. From one of His twelve betraying Him with a kiss, to the holding dungeon of the High Priest, to the courtyard of mocking and beating, He pressed toward the tree.

A brutal beating was designed to render the victim almost lifeless. His sinless and disease free body was ordained to suffer for every sickness that sin had brought on the human race. All disease and suffering is the work of sin. The Son of God was the Father’s offering for the healing of His human temples, where His Holy Spirit would come to dwell.

He was riddled with those Roman whips. As the strong soldiers put their total strength into thrashing the Son of God, huge strips of flesh were torn and gashes exposed His tendons, ribs, and backbone. Isaiah said of this moment of sorrow, "His visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men" (Isaiah 52:14b). Many men of greater statue had already died at this state. But, the Son of man must choose His own moment of death.

All the way to the cross, He was designed to carry the weapon of death. If possible, the worst of brutality awaited His arrival at the designated site. Two criminals were prepared as His companions to hang on either flank. What a plan the Father has designed! His Son must die with those that needed Him most. As He lay prostrate upon the crude cross, they proceeded to drive great metal stakes into His hands and feet. His legs were cupped so that His only support was the stakes in His hands. Hanging in such a manner, His chest was so tightly drawn that every breath required Him to lift His body by His hands that were staked to the crossbar. Each breath was like death and each relief was torture. His overpowering thought was stated with trembling lips, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:24a). One of those criminals could watch His love no longer and cried, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom" (Luke 23:42). His response was a kingdom expression, "To day shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43b).

God was dying and the earth let out its groans with an earthquake and darkness for three long hours. Even a Roman centurion – watching and feeling the clamour of Heaven – declared, "Truly this was the Son of God" (Matthew 24:54). Priests in the temple were trying to celebrate sacrifice even in the fear that gripped Jerusalem.

Suddenly, an unseen hand ripped the great veil of the Holy of Holies as a new Priest was prepared to enter the great prototype in the heavens. He could only die because He chose to die as His Father’s offering for sin. Before He would occupy the Holy of Holies, He quickly moved to Upper Sheol to finish His sermon to the First Testament saints.

When all was finished below, He walked right through death and did not leave a thing but grave clothes. He appeared to those that loved and believed in Him. After His finishing works among His chosen, He ascended to take up the business of His Father. In a perfected human body, He is seated at His Father’s right hand. All power is His, everything is on schedule, His End Times plan is in motion, and His arrival in the clouds must be expected at any moment. Until then, the whole earth will groan with each new sorrow and failure of human design. Until He appears, it is a must to live the life of Biblical faith. There is no time to play games of chance. Every unprepared day or hour is foolish living.

"Look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh" (Luke 21:28b). He wants to be your everything and meet every need until He has gathered you to be a part of His wedding day.