Background Bible Reading: Matthew 27:46
When Jesus was crucified on the middle cross over 2000 years ago, it was the most tragic event that ever occurred in the history of humankind. When Christ cried, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me, (Matthew 27:46) even a veil hid the brightness of the sun as darkness draped the earth during that dark hour.
Well might the sun in darkness hide and shut His glories in, as Christ the mighty Maker died for man, the creatures sin.
The question has been asked:
Why did the Father forsake His Son and leave Him to die alone?
Perhaps one of the reasons was to reveal the true nature of sin. Jesus did not die the death of a martyr nor was He a victim of mob violence. He died, not only vicariously but also voluntarily. He was made sin for us, He who knew no sin. (II Corinthians 5:21)
Here sin had its full and free sway. Even those who delivered, condemned and crucified the Christ, were fulfilling prophecy, and did so in the freest use of their own moral powers. They who committed such atrocities did so by the inner compulsion of the sin nature, which bears the very likeness of Gods archenemy, the devil. Here sin reached its fearful climax and here we have a true picture of sins eternal death.
This death reveals the awful separation from God, by its loneliness, its darkness and its hopelessness.
God is here judging sin in order that in righteousness it may be put away. Jesus is bearing the curse of the law and He becomes the sacrificial lamb that taketh away the sin of the world.
But there is another reason to explain this terrible tragedy and that is that it reveals heavens highest love.
God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
Following the awful tragedy of Calvary came the glorious triumph of the resurrection.
Jesus, by His death and resurrection took the sting out of death and the victory from the grave. The barriers that hindered a holy God from forgiving and saving a guilty man are (so far as Gods side of the question is concerned) removed. The law of God is kept honorable, His government is maintained and the righteousness of God is manifested. The provision for a present, and an eternal salvation for all men, from all sin, is complete.
Also the strongest moral appeal is made, and the highest moral incentive furnished a morally free subject of God to repent, to choose righteousness, and both turn to and follow fully with God. Now that Jesus has made the provisions and given us the promise of a full and free salvation, let us not fail to appropriate them so that they become actualities in our lives.
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