God Legislated for our Weaknesses on the Cross

On the cross where Jesus died, every kind of emotion was evident. Negative emotions like, fear, shame, anger, apathy, guilt. Physical pain and agony were also obvious. Those who believed in Jesus Christ were fearful that the one in whom they had put their faith in was dying. The one who healed them of their infirmities, the one who rescued them from death, the one who gave them food when there were hungry and perhaps most importantly, the one who taught them the word of God hung seemingly helpless and defeated on the cross. Or so they thought? What could they do? If they had their way, such shame should not be meted upon the son of God. To some people on that day, hope in a better future and life with Christ among them, became hopelessness. For others, what they gained from knowing Christ and what they could potentially get by having him around was taken away on the cruel cross. The cross was indeed a place of seemingly shattered dreams. For the betrayer, who perhaps thought that Christ will evade arrest given all the power that he had, surely, they could never kill him…. but kill him they did. He could not live with himself for being the one to betray his master, saw defeat, hopelessness and helplessness and went ahead to hang himself.

Despite all the negative emotions that the was experienced by the different characters present on that day, there were positive emotions, although most of the positive emotions were to be experienced three days after, when the tomb could not keep the Christ.

To some others like the Jews, their nightmare was over, the one who wreaked havoc on their belief system was finally being taken away for good; they were joyous, content and fulfilled that they won, their belief system was going to be intact, or so they thought on that day.

From the saviour’s perspective, on the day of crucifixion, he exhaled and said that it is finished, yes, it was painful but, he had fulfilled his mission on earth by going to the cross. That was a huge positive on that day, he experienced the joy, satisfaction, contentment, delight in fulfilling the prophecies that were written about him and keeping to the word which he said earlier to his disciples, that the son of man must die as it was written by the prophets and that he will rise again on the third day.

Most of the positive emotions were experienced three days after the resurrection, joy that the death could not keep him down – alas, victory over death had been achieved. The entire human experience had been reshaped, history re-written; the world will never remain the same since that day. The enmity between the creator and the created, caused by sin had been put to rest. Those who where hitherto separated from God had been brought into harmony and union, one with God. Access to God just became easier, sin no longer had the power it had over humanity, it was now conquered once and for all. Grace was purchased in abundance. Abundant life, abundant grace, abundant blessings, goodness, and mercies all multiplied.

On that day, God through his son had legislated for human weakness because while we were yet sinners, Christ died for our sins. Mercy triumphed over judgement as Christ became the sin offering – he essential was judged so that you and I may not be judged but receive mercy as a substitute. He indeed became the substitute for every sin that would ever be committed through the ages to follow, which is enormous.  He became sin itself, so that the weakness in humans, the natural propensity for sin might be overcome through ‘mere faith’ in him. Mere faith because, it is easier to believe for one’s remission of sin than to pay the price for sin, which no human can adequately pay. Sin is our weakness and God legislated for it on the cross and in place of it, provided strength that is not our own, so that we cannot boast in ourselves but reference the cross for such strength. So, when we are weak, we may remember to say that we are strong, when we are sick, we may remember to say that we are healed; when we are poor, we may be able to say that we are rich, because of what Christ did over 2000 years ago.

Freedom in Christ

“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.  Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.”

– Acts 13:38-39

When the scriptures speak about freedom, it speaks about it alongside sin to show a contrast. It also says that everyone who believes in Christ is set free from sin. So, sin is the monster here. Sin is that which keeps people in bondage, when it grabs hold of anyone, it tortures, it damages people, friendship, family, relationships, trust. It ruins everything that is good.

To better understand freedom, we need to understand bondage. The contrasting nature of the two terms makes it important to appreciate them both. The same way that having a full understanding of poverty makes us appreciate abundance better. When it comes to sin/bondage and freedom in Christ, I guess you could rightly say that we have ALL sinned and come short of the glory of God – Rom 8:23. So, everyone has lived through the consequences and/or bondage of sin. That is whether in the past or in the present. Make no mistake, sin keeps people in bondage. When it grabs hold of anyone, it seeks to destroy them and nothing less. And we were all in the bondage of sin until Christ came and took away all our sins. He died to help us gain freedom. The famous hymn writer did say that “where sin has gone, must go his grace”.  

Notice that, Christ only just sets free the ones who believe. It would be amazing for everyone to be set free and yes, God acknowledges and wants that. Nevertheless, he also appreciates the gift of free will that he gave us all. We are within our rights to exercise that and believe in him to appropriate our own freedom.

So, having been set free by Christ.  What does this freedom mean to us? Well, the apostle Paul said this when writing to the Corinthians – I have the right to do anything —but I will not be mastered by anything”.

Freedom means that we are no longer aliens before God, it makes us the temple of God, where the holy spirit dwells. In essence, it gives us the presence of God. It unites and makes us one with God. It makes us into children of God and if children, then we become heirs to the throne along with Christ. Isn’t that awesome. Yes, that is what freedom does for us, it also gives us boldness to approach the throne of God to ask for help in times of need and whenever, really. What does that freedom mean to you? It means everything, my life, my all if you ask me!  And to what end did Christ give us this freedom which came at a great cost to heaven? Well, that is simple, to the end that we may glorify the one who made us. It is our entire duty on earth, remember! So, let us use our freedom in Christ to glorify the one who called us!