Continuing to read John Piper’s book “The Passion of Jesus Christ”, today’s chapter was on the pleasure of God. It pleased God that Christ suffered and died.
“Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief.” - Isaiah 53:10
“Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” - Ephesians 5:2
I don’t believe that the idea of Jesus having do die on the cross was a new concept or that it just happened all of a sudden. I don’t think the events leading up to the death of Christ were a matter of pure chance and happenstance, but in fact I believe that the whole thing was purposed and planned by God who knew from the beginning what needed to be done.
Christ died on the cross in submission and obedience to the Father whose plan had continued to be carried out even before the beginning of time. God’s justice requires that His wrath be poured out upon transgressors and yet His love enacts grace upon those transgressors through the blood of Christ who willingliy and submissivly gave his life. Christ in his full diety was able to take on our sin and did so to fufill the purpose of God in salvation, which pleased the Father.
It pleased God that Christ was obedient. It pleased God that his wrath was appeased and it pleased God that lost sinners were able to be united with Him once more through Christ. The Bible says that Christs death was a “fragrant offering” to God.
_______________
Conscept from:
Piper, John. The Passion of Jesus Christ. Crossway Books. (c) 2004 by Desiring God Foundation. Pg. 22-23
Add A Comment