PERFECTION IN CHRIST Although we have spoken often about the vicarious, or substitutionary, nature of Christ's death, it is necessary that we again affirm it. The near-total failure of the contemporary church to speak on this subject has rendered the average church member woefully ignorant of this provision. Because it bears upon the subject we are discussing, and further delineates why Jesus had to be morally and spiritually perfect in every way, this aspect of Christ's death will be discussed. Isaiah declared Jesus bore "our griefs," and carried "our sorrows." He was "wounded for our transgressions" and "bruised for our iniquities." The grievous chastening He endured was for "our peace," and it was "the iniquity of us all" that was laid upon Him (Isa 53:4-6). That is a most precise view of His vicarious sacrifice. Our justification is "through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation . . . " (Rom 3:24-25,
Devotion 6 of 15
In carrying our griefs and sorrows, Jesus identified with the humble state of mankind, and relieved them of their oppressions. As Peter affirmed, He "went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil" (Acts 10:38). Matthew affirms that He healed "all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people." When they brought to Him "all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy," it is written that "He healed them" (Matt 4:4:23-24). Later, the Spirit affirms this gracious ministry of healing was done "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses" (Matt 8:17).
But this work was not enough to redeem mankind, as marvelous as it was! I realize there are some who say in dying Jesus bore our sicknesses, but that is not at all the case. That portion of Isaiah's prophecy was fulfilled in Christ's ministry of compassion, as the Spirit affirmed in Matthew eight. Jesus did not carry these sicknesses in His body, dying for the sake of them, and in order that men might be healed in the flesh. Such a death was not required, because sickness did not alienate men from God! Sickness did not require atonement! Sickness did not make men the enemies of God. Thus, the death of Christ was not required for bodily sickness to be healed.
We know this is the case because of Isaiah's prophecy. He points out that Jesus had to be stricken by God even though He had graciously relieved those afflicted in the body. That is why the text reads, "YET we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted." But mark it well, God did not afflict Jesus because men had bodily infirmities! He was not afflicted by God because men had diseases. Such a thought demeans the death of Christ and reproaches the God of heaven!
That is why the PRECISE reason for Jesus' death is given. "But He was wounded for our TRANSGRESSIONS, He was bruised for our INIQUITIES." Sin had alienated men from God, putting them at war with Him. Thus, we read "the chastisement of our peace was upon him." In order for us to be at peace with God, Jesus had to become responsible for our sins and die for them. The healing that was wrought through His stripes was from sin, not disease! Peter said it this way, "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 Pet 2:24). The effect of this atoning death is therefore declared in this manner: "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls" (1 Pet 2:25).
The "stripes" through which we were healed were not those inflicted by men, but those inflicted by God Himself. The stroke through which our deliverance came was not administered by Caiaphas, Pilate, or Herod. Our salvation did not come through their malicious deeds, but by the hand of the Almighty Himself: "stricken BY GOD, smitten BY HIM, and afflicted" (NIV).
The nature of God demanded that Jesus lay His life down, a "ransom for many" (Matt 20:28). The Lamb of God was not an arbitrary provision of God, but one demanded by His very nature. There simply was no other way for a thrice holy God to receive sinners. HIS NATURE DEMANDS PERFECTION; that is why He provided a perfect Savior! That is why Jesus lived a perfect life and died a perfect death. It was for us--that God might receive us! God's nature demanded that our salvation be accomplished in this manner!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, help me to realize more fully the depth of my fall, and the height of my salvation through Jesus' perfect sacrifice.
-- Tomorrow: ALREADY PERFECT --