Staggering. Who killed Jesus? Was it Pilate? The Roman guards? The Jews? They had a role, but the Bible's simplest answer is: "His Father killed him."
Acts 2:23- "This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God"
Romans 3:25- "Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood."
Why? How could this be? Why would the Father do such a thing? Why isn't this, as some arrogant people like to say, "divine child abuse?"
Romans 8:32- "He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all."
2 Corinthians 5:21- "[God] made Him who knew to no sin to be sin on our behalf."
God did not spare His own Son, because it was the only way He could spare us. The perfect Son, blameless of any wrongdoing and wholly worthy of my worship, took my place and received my punishment for my sins. The book I was reading today captured the staggering thought this way: "Just as Abraham lifted the knife over the chest of his own son Isaac, but then spared his son because there was a ram in the thicket, so God the Father lifted the knife over the chest of his own Son Jesus-- but did not spare him, because he was the ram; he was the substitute."
I almost cried when I read that. This is love incomprehensible. It's like the hymn "Hallelujah What A Savior" says:
Man of sorrows! what a name
For the Son of God who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude
In my place condemned He stood
Sealed my pardon with His blood
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Amen! May I never cease to survey and savor the wondrous cross!
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