Among the many precious lessons which the death of the cross sets before us is the perfectness of Christ's love to the Father. He fully carried out the Father's will, glorified Him on the earth in a scene of unparalleled trial, temptation, and rejection; and in this He found delight. So unmoved was the purpose of His heart as to this,, that, in the immediate prospect of the cross, He said, " Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name!" And again, "That the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do." (John 12:27, 28; 14:31.) There was perfect obedience in the face of the most terrible pressure of suffering and shame. He went straight on in obedience to the will of Him that sent Him. He surrendered Himself entirely to God. As to His words, He could say, "I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, He gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak." In the face of everything hostile, and at all cost, with the loss of everything, even life itself, He was always the obedient One, so that He truly said, " I do always those things that please him." It is also said of Him, "Being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the-death of the cross." In such a world as this, and such a path, ending in such a death of ignominy, suffering, and judgment of sin, we see perfect obedience. (John 12:49; 8:29. Phil. 2:8.)
His faith too was perfect; for, though forsaken of God, not even heard when He cried, not having the privileges of a common Israelite, but "a worm and no man," He could still say, " My God." From the first to the last of the path of dependence He was pleased to take, when He humbled Himself and took upon Him the form of a servant, He was the Beginner and Finisher of faith. Under the most trying circumstances of suffering, both of soul and body, forsaken by His own disciples, the Object of men's scorn and hatred, and, more distressing than all to His loving heart, forsaken of His God, whom He had always pleased, still it was " My God." What profoundly solemn lessons a glance at the perfect ways of Jesus, His entire self-surrender, whole-hearted subjection, perfect love to the Father, perfect obedience to His will, as well as His perfect faith, read to our souls!
Though He made intercession for the transgressors, yet He was not the less sensitive of their scorn and hatred; but about it all, He poured out His heart to God. Not a disdainful shake of the head but He keenly felt, not a word of mockery but fell painfully on His ear; but in the perfectness of faith He told all out to His God. "When he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered he threatened not; but committed himself to him who judgeth righteously." (1 Pet. 2:23.) Hence we find among the utterances of His heart when lifted up upon the tree, "All they that see me laugh me to scorn; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head.".... "Thou art my God from my mother's belly. Be not far from me, for trouble is near; for there is none to help. Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax, it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd.... for dogs have compassed me; the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me, they pierced my hands and my feet.... they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture." (Psalm 22:7-18.) Thus He committed Himself in everything to God. Even the cup, though in drinking it, it might come through men's wicked hands, and Satan's bruising of His heel, He took from the Father's hand; for He said, "The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" And so all through the sorrows of the cross, and suffering of death, His faith, His obedience, His love, all was perfect. Surely He hath left us an example that we should follow His steps. Is it not well to ponder this scene so melting to our hearts, until we are so taken up with Himself now glorified, that we are constrained to live only to serve and honor Him in ways of love, obedience, and faith?
Before God all was perfect. By the death of the cross, the atoning work was done. The Holy One having been made sin for us, and having suffered for sins all the demands of divine judgment, He was righteously raised from the dead, and exalted to the right hand of God. So perfectly was the work done, that God could send glad-tidings to every creature to proclaim forgiveness of sins and justification from all things to everyone that believeth on Him.
In the death of the cross, then, we see man's dreadful hatred to Christ, his enmity against God, and God's abundant grace to man. Sin is there beheld in all its dire malignity, meeting with the expression of God's perfect abhorrence of it in turning away from His perfect and well-beloved Son, because He was bearing our sins. The righteousness of God is there manifested, not in cutting off the sinner in his sins, but in pouring out the just judgment they deserved on His own spotless Son. The truth of God is established, and all done that the scriptures might be fulfilled. There God was glorified. His holiness, righteousness, love, truth, majesty, all are seen in the Cross in uncompromising excellence. Thus sins are purged, peace made, and man saved.
Jesus really died for our sins, according to the scriptures. This was necessary. Had He stopped a hair's breadth of actual death under the judgment of God for sin, no one could be saved. If He, the Com of wheat, had not died, He must have been alone. But He did die. He tasted death. Concerning the precious mystery of His death, we are told that He was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, and that He was taken by wicked hands, crucified and slain. And yet He truly said, "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." We also know that when He cried out in deepest sorrow on the tree, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" He also could truly add "Thou hast brought me into the dust of death." Oh the matchless glory, and mystery of the death of the cross!