…let’s be sure that it is the unrepentant sinner that is to be pitied. The Savior is to be exalted and glorified in His resurrection power!
“In conclusion, it is tempting to look upon the crucified Jesus with condescending pity and feel sorry for his brutal suffering. Yet, out of respect for Jesus’ dignity we must resist that temptation, because Jesus did not die as yet another helpless victim. Rather, with the cross on the horizon of his life, Jesus said that no one would take his life from him in defeat, but rather he would give it and take it up again in victory (John 10:18). Furthermore, Hebrews 12:2 encourages us to “[look] to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” In dignity and triumph, Jesus endured the cross because of the joy that awaited him on the other side of his resurrection, where the Father is glorified in heaven and sinful people have been atoned for on the earth. Today Jesus sits upon his throne in heaven, smiling as he rules over all creation and prepares for the day of his final coming to establish his eternal throne upon the earth. This triumphantly joyous Jesus is not served by our pity but by our praise.”
- Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears, Death By Love, p. 30
So the heart wrenching we feel over Jesus’ suffering must be wrought in our knowledge that God’s wrath, in punishment of OUR sin, was poured out upon Him - swinging the whips, rending the flesh and driving the nails. We should mourn over our SIN rather than feeling sorry for Jesus as though He were powerless. The suffering, mocking and murder of Jesus was in the mind and plan of God from all eternity in display of His power over sin…as was the resurrection in display of His power over death. We should therefore rejoice with gladness that our sin debt has been paid and eternal life sealed in heaven on our behalf, and we should find exceeding joy and peace in this ultimate demonstration that our God will do exactly as He pleases, that none can thwart His plan, and that no power in heaven or earth compares with the LORD!!!
- But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases. -Ps. 115:3
- Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me? -Jer. 32:27
- I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. -Job 42:2
- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will. – Eph 1:3-11 (Emphasis added)
We serve a mighty God who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we could ask or think. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!!
Amen, Brian.
Amen & Amen!
Hallelujah for the cruel cross and Divine wrath poured in entirety on Jesus Christ, God the Son!