When they take the Son of God and put Him to death, why is that considered good?
Because when He died that horrific tortured death on Calvary, He took the punishment due us for our rebellion against God.
It was good for us. Was it good for Him?
When He arose from the dead on Easter, He proved that what He said was true. He had been predicting these moments to His followers for a couple years and they did not believe Him.
Until He did it.
The Bible says, "… who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb 2:2).
So if Jesus came down from Glory, endured the cross, and went back to Glory, what was His net gain?
Us.
We were the joy set before Him.
It was good for us. Was it good for Him?
When He arose from the dead on Easter, He proved that what He said was true. He had been predicting these moments to His followers for a couple years and they did not believe Him.
Until He did it.
The Bible says, "… who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb 2:2).
So if Jesus came down from Glory, endured the cross, and went back to Glory, what was His net gain?
Us.
We were the joy set before Him.
We are the bride He travelled to a far land to obtain (like Jacob did, among other examples).
Granted we're not the finished product, yet, but if we cooperate with His plan, He sees something in us He wants to spend eternity with.
I'm good with that. That's good.
I want to share a cool thing with you.
If you're not a Christian, please read anyway, because it never hurts to have a little information about what those whackos around you believe.
A few people know that Psalm 22 is a description of the crucifixion of Jesus that was written hundreds of years before the event.
David saw it in a vision and it shakes him up so much that he starts out with:
My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
Many Christians have been taught that, as He was crucified, Jesus was crying this out to His Father in heaven, because the Father could not bear to look on Jesus, our scapegoat.
That He was separated from the Father.
That Jesus was accursed (and the Father could not be in fellowship with Jesus because it would violate His holiness) because Jesus was carrying the penalty of the sins of the world.
Give me a break.
<< 1 Corinthians 12:3 >> Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed.
Jesus and the Father had this worked out since before the universe was created, and at the last minute The All-Powerful Ruler of More than the Universe flinches?
No.
If the Father and the Son (who with the Spirit are referred to as the "Godhead" in perfect unity) ever separated, I believe the universe would crumble.
If the Father looked away from His Son in His greatest trial. how could you be sure He would stay with you in yours?
As you read the gospels, particularly John's, you see that the Pharisees (some of them, like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, were good guys, by the way) were asking Jesus for a sign that he was the Messiah. He continually answered them that when they saw Him lifted up, that would be their sign.
Here He is, lifted up in front of them. He's surrounded by "strong bulls" (prison slang for guards), and the crowd is taunting Him. It's the scene predicted in Psalm 22 .
Then He quotes the first verse of Psalm 22.
This is called a "Remez". It's a teaching tool Jesus had used for 3 years.
When they hear this verse, they remember the rest of the Psalm.
The Pharisees had asked Jesus for a sign.
He said that they would have it when the Son of Man was lifted up.
(Remember that joke, "Here's your sign."?)
Can you imagine the look on their face when they get it?
This death on this cross by this man was predicted hundreds of years ago.
Here was their sign.
The ramifications are huge.
Do you get it?
These people did:
https://stream.org/did-god-abandon-jesus-on-the-cross/
Every time I read this it fills me with hope and wonder
ReplyDeleteJoe
Thanks Joe.
DeleteI love this post every time!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jerry. Glad I found you posting again!
DeleteExcellent Ed...and a perfect example how man defines God in his terms, not His. Perfectly said in contending for the [proper] faith on this "Good" Friday. Have a wonderful "Easter" (some do not like the term, but I figure if Tyndale could translate 'pascha' to Easter...it's okay for us).
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter Paul!
DeleteThanks for addressing what's good for us! The insight your sharing concerning the remez may cause a paradigm shift in my understanding of what Jesus was going through as he took the punishment for our sins. Was he really "feeling" forsaken humanly? Or, using a remez as proclamation "it is finished" = prophecy fulfilled? 2 cor 5:21 comes to mind. Was he actually separated? For how long? Till his spirit left his body or till he rose again? If I get it, the GODHEAD cannot and will not be separated. Is this a proper hyperlink/ cross reference? " the LORD our God is one" A joy filled rez day to you and yours Ed.
ReplyDeleteI recently learned that "It is finished" was a transactional term used at the time.
Delete"The purchase has been made."
There is so much depth in scripture.
Puts String Theory to shame :)
Also, as I have read, “The price [for sin and our salvation] has been paid in full.”
DeleteBetter translation.
DeleteI really appreciate the way you've reflected on the theological beauty and purpose of Jesus’ death-His sacrifice for us. But sometimes I think we miss something else that’s just as vital.
ReplyDeleteJesus wasn’t crucified in a vacuum. He was executed by the Roman state after being handed over by religious leaders who feared what He represented: a challenge to their authority, their comfort, and their control. He upended systems. He dined with the wrong people. He told stories that exposed injustice. And He lifted up the poor, the foreigner, the outcast, and the criminal.
That’s not just a spiritual message, it’s a political one too. His death wasn’t only about saving souls. It was also the inevitable result of living truthfully and compassionately in a world that preferred power over mercy.
So today, when we see asylum seekers, immigrants, LGBTQ youth, and the poor demonized by those in power, and when we watch people cheer it on in the name of Christianity, I think of that same crowd that turned on Jesus.
Yes, we are the joy set before Him. But I think the question this Easter isn’t just “Do you believe in His resurrection?”, but also, “Do you stand with Him today?” With the vulnerable? With the ones power still tries to silence?
Yes, but by my choice, not the choice of others.
DeleteWhat you describe is the difference between socialism and individualism.
Charity is an act of the individual.
When the state forces me to be charitable, it is tyranny.
When the state enacts policies that flood our borders, empowers drug abuse, and mutilation of children both mentally and physically, it is not Love.
I hear you, and I agree that forced charity alone isn’t love. But what I’m describing isn’t about replacing personal compassion with government policy—it’s about recognizing when policy itself becomes a tool of cruelty.
DeleteIf a society claims to be founded on Christian values, but turns a blind eye to suffering at the border, or passes laws that harm the most vulnerable—are we really living out Christ’s example? Jesus didn’t just preach personal morality—He confronted systems that crushed the poor and marginalized.
And let’s be honest: the policies we support, fund, or vote for do shape the lives of real people. If we champion individual salvation but ignore collective suffering, we might be following a gospel that’s more American than Christian.
Nobody’s asking the government to save souls. But if we can build a society where fewer people suffer needlessly—where laws reflect mercy instead of power—isn’t that something worth striving for?
And I would add, I think you’ve been sold a narrative that doesn’t hold up when you look closer.
DeleteAsylum seekers aren’t storming the gates to take advantage—they’re fleeing situations most of us couldn’t imagine. Many are mothers with children, risking everything for a chance at safety. That’s not a threat. That’s a cry for help. We’ve dealt with immigration challenges for over a hundred years, but suddenly it’s being painted as some kind of moral collapse. Why now?
Even legal immigrants—adults who came here as children, people with legal status, and even students peacefully expressing their views—are being targeted now. That’s not security. That’s scapegoating.
And on the “mutilation” point—I’m not sure if you meant immigrants or transgender kids—but either way, it feels like an overblown fear used to stir people up, not solve problems. These issues are real and deserve thought, not slogans.
At the heart of it, I believe Christ calls us to compassion, not condemnation. We don’t have to agree on every policy, but I hope we can agree that fear shouldn’t be our guide.
I once was of the opinion that if I wanted a "Christian"Nation, then that nation should feed the poor, etc.
DeleteThen I realized that governments are corrupt, Jesus faced one, and can't be trusted to not show favor, or buy votes.
And son of a gun, that's just what we have.
The masses of these immigrants are not fleeing persecution or famine. They were coming here for the largesse you describe.
We cannot afford to let everyone come here and suck on the teat.
The left has been importing people to this country willy nilly to overcome the system (Lcoward-Pivens) and wash away the cultural underpinnings that made this country unique.
And to create a large voting block, much like when they moved people into Kansas to make it a slave state.
Ed, I can appreciate your distrust of power and it’s fair to be wary of governments. But that cuts both ways, doesn’t it? When power becomes concentrated in the hands of a few—politicians or billionaires—it’s often the vulnerable who get crushed. And right now, it’s the immigrants, the poor, the sick, and even transgender children caught in the crosshairs.
DeleteLet’s be honest: immigrants don’t vote. Non-citizens don’t vote. That narrative isn’t just wrong, it’s being used to justify stripping rights from people who can vote, especially if they look different or think differently. We’ve seen that play out in real time.
Most asylum seekers aren’t coming for freebies, they’re coming because their governments collapsed, their communities were overrun by violence, or their children were no longer safe. Many of those root causes such as cartel violence, economic desperation, and political destabilization are decades in the making, and yes, both parties have played a role.
But here’s what I keep coming back to: it’s not about whether government is perfect. It’s about whether we allow ourselves to dehumanize people to preserve comfort or power. That’s where your last point hits hardest for me—Jesus did face government corruption, but He didn’t side with it. He stood with the oppressed. And that’s what got Him killed.
I’m not asking for open borders or chaos. I’m asking that we resist cruelty in any form, especially when it’s justified by fear or wrapped in falsehoods. Because once we accept cruelty toward others, it’s only a matter of time before it comes for us too.