Crucified with Christ

This morning's Good Friday message in church was based on various passages, one of which particularly struck me afresh:

"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit." - Galatians 3:13-14 (NIV)

Hung on a Tree

"If a man guilty of a capital offence is put to death and his body is hung on a tree, you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse. You must not desecrate the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance." - Deuteronomy 21:22-23 (NIV)

Jesus' death - and mode of death - was not an accident. Jesus died on a cross in order that He might become a curse for us while remaining innocent of any wrongdoing, thereby redeeming us from the curse of the law. In other words, Jesus' death on a cross was the means by which the wages of sin (ie. death) were externally imputed to Him in the form of a curse (ie. being hung on a tree), without Him being internally responsible for committing any sin (cf. Hebrews 4:15).

"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross." - Acts 2:22-23 (NIV)

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!" - Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)

The Blessing Given to Abraham

Firstly, God gave Abraham the greatest blessing possible - Himself!

"After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward."" - Genesis 15:1 (NIV)

The footnote to this verse indicates that 'I am your shield' could also be translated as 'I am sovereign'. So in Genesis 15:1, God reassures Abraham that He is sovereign and good.

Secondly, God promised to give Abraham a son through whom all nations would be blessed. This was fulfilled through Isaac and ultimately Jesus, the Son of Man 'who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations' (Ephesians 2:14-15, NIV).

"Then the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir." He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars - if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness." - Genesis 15:4-6 (NIV)

"Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith." - Galatians 3:6-9 (NIV)

"The mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus." - Ephesians 3:6 (NIV)

Interestingly, the New Testament (aka the New Covenant) begins with 'a record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham' (Matthew 1:1, NIV).

"The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ." - Galatians 3:16 (NIV)

Degrees of Death

1. Abraham was as good as dead when God promised to give him a biological son.

"By faith Abraham, even though he was past age - and Sarah herself was barren - was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore." - Hebrews 11:11-12 (NIV)

2. Isaac was allegorically dead for 3 days as Abraham and Isaac set out from Beersheba to Moriah.

Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you..."

When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"

"Here I am," he replied.

"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."

- Genesis 22:3-5, 9-12 (NIV)

3. Jesus was actually dead for 3 days before God raised Him from the dead.

"But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him." - Acts 2:24 (NIV)

Abraham was reproductively dead, Isaac was figuratively dead and Jesus was physically dead. In all 3 cases, God gave them a new lease of life!

Application

It is natural for us to question the sovereignty and/or goodness of God, not least in the face of death (or the death of something that is dear to us).

Abraham questioned his Heavenly Father.

"But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?" And Abram said, "You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir."" - Genesis 15:2-3 (NIV)

Isaac (who foreshadows Jesus the Lamb of God) questioned his earthly father Abraham (who represents God the Father).

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?"

"Yes, my son?" Abraham replied.

"The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"

- Genesis 22:6-7 (NIV)

The apostle Paul pleaded - not once, not twice, but three times - for 'a thorn in [his] flesh, a messenger of Satan' (2 Corinthians 12:7, NIV) to be taken away from him.

Even Jesus in His humanity 'fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will"' (Matthew 26:39, NIV). As He hung on the cross, 'Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" - which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"' (Matthew 27:46, NIV).

But having questioned, Abraham, Isaac, Paul and Jesus trusted and obeyed.

Abraham

"Then the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir." He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars - if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness." - Genesis 15:4-6 (NIV)

Later on in Genesis 22, Abraham followed without questioning when God instructed him to sacrifice his son Isaac as a burnt offering.

"By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death." - Hebrews 11:17-19 (NIV)

Isaac

On Isaac's part, he too followed without questioning any further after his father answered him.

"Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together." - Genesis 22:8 (NIV)

Paul

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

Jesus

"He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."" - Matthew 26:42 (NIV)

"Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last." - Luke 23:46 (NIV)

How about us? Will we take up our crosses daily, crucify our earthly passions and desires, and submit our lives to the Giver of life?

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." - Galatians 2:20 (NIV)

"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." - Galatians 5:24 (NIV)

"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." - Galatians 6:14 (NIV)

We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes
You're the Giver of life
We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes
You're the Giver of life

You alone can rescue
You alone can save
You alone can lift us from the grave

You came down to find us
Led us out of death
To You alone belongs the highest praise

*****

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?" - Luke 9:23-25 (NIV)

Links: Raised with Christ (24 Apr 11), Clothed with Christ (25 Apr 11)