The Darkness of Our Redemption

February 21, 2021

The salvation of mankind required a blood sacrifice.

When sin enters, something must die.

Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.Genesis 3:21

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.Romans 6:23

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.James 1:14-15

Animal sacrifice could not wash away sin.

For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.Hebrews 10:1-4

Obedience to the law was evidence of faith in God’s Word.

The law pointed to the coming of the Messiah.

And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.Leviticus 16:5-6

Crucifixion was the most humiliating, shameful and painful way to die.

Under Roman authority, crucifixion was so heinous, it was reserved for only foreigners and slaves.

“A death by crucifixion seems to include all that pain and death can have of the horrible and ghastly, dizziness, cramp, thirst, starvation, sleeplessness, traumatic fever, shame, publicity of shame, long continuance of torment, horror of anticipation, mortification of intended wounds, all intensified just up to the point at which they can be endured at all, but all stopping just short of the point which would give to the sufferer the relief of unconsciousness.… The unnatural position made every movement painful; the lacerated veins and crushed tendons throbbed with incessant anguish.”

Under Jewish custom, crucifixion was a form of hanging, evidence of being cursed of God.

And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.Deuteronomy 21:22-23

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:Galatians 3:13

Jesus was not forced to his execution, He offered Himself up willingly.

And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.Matthew 26:39

Crucifixion was a requirement for our redemption.

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.1 Peter 2:24

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.Isaiah 53:7-10

Jesus’ sacrifice would be the final sacrifice for sin.

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.Hebrews 10:10

And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.Hebrews 10:11-14

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.Hebrews 10:16-18

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.Hebrews 9:13-15

For Christians, we love the cross, we respect the cross, but we don’t idolize or venerate the cross.

We recognize the cross as a brutal means of execution which saved us from our sin.

The cross is a symbol of God’s love and our freedom that was purchased at the ultimate cost.

The cross is a reminder of our worth to our Father and Master.