Why?

 •  4 min. read  •  grade level: 6
 
Christ in dying asked, Why?
Christ in resurrection asked, Why?
Christ from glory asked, Why?
Christ today asks, Why?
He asked God, Why?
He asked His disciples, Why?
He asked Saul of Tarsus, Why?
He asks you, Why?
Unanswered then by God, it is answered by thousands today, and will be answered eternally by myriads of redeemed ones surrounding the Savior in glory.
Why was He, the holy, harmless, undefiled One, forsaken? Why was He, upon whom heaven opened, to whom the Father testified His delight, who did always the things that pleased Him—why was He abandoned?
Believers can answer: "It was for us." He, "His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.”
He was made sin for us, He who knew no sin, "that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." On the cross He put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, making purgation for sins, glorifying God. Christ Jesus was forsaken because a holy God must turn from Him while His own Son, Jesus, by whom all things were made, became a sacrifice for sin. In righteousness He was forsaken of God.
"He took the guilty culprit's place,
And suffered in his stead;
For man, O miracle of grace!
For man the Savior bled.”
"Why Are Ye Troubled?”
Christ is risen— the death of the cross is accomplished— the victory won— redemption obtained— God glorified, and the risen Savior comes into the midst of His gathered loved ones, and announces "Peace.”
Why are you troubled, my reader? Is it on account of your many sins? Well might terror fill your mind were there no Savior— had no sacrifice, acceptable to God, been made; well might anguish wring your heart. But there is a Savior; there is a sacrifice. The foes are foiled, so the fears may flee; for He who was under the weight of sins at the cross is the risen, glorified Savior, now saying to the believer:
"Behold with what labor I won thee,
Behold in My hands and my feet,
The tale of My measureless sorrow,
Of love that made sorrow so sweet.
A flax-thread in oceans of fire,
How soon swallowed up would it be;
Yet sooner in oceans of mercy,
The sinner that cometh to Me.”
"Why Persecutest Thou Me?”
From the glory into which the risen Christ has gone, He asked of Saul of Tarsus, "Why persecutest thou Me?”
Breathing out threatenings and slaughter, this archenemy among men of a glorified Christ was pursuing his onward course of antagonism and enmity. In him Jesus Christ will show forth His wondrous long-suffering, and a light, past the brightness of the sun, shines from heaven, and Saul is stricken to the earth, while upon his astonished ears the question falls, "Why persecutest thou Me?”
A Savior in glory calling in grace to "the chiefest of sinners" on earth! Wondrous grace— unequaled mercy— unparalleled condescension!
Saul's enmity is smashed to shivers, and the late champion of a Christless religion becomes the bravest champion of the religion of Christ.
"Sinners, it was not to angels
All this wondrous love was given;
But to one who scorned, despised Him,
Scorned and hated Christ in heaven.
From the lowest depths of evil,
To the heights of heaven above,
Thus in Saul He told the wonders
Of His free, unbounded love.”
The grace that saved a Saul can rescue you. "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."
"Why Will Ye Die?”
It was asked of Israel, in days long since departed, Why would they revolt further? Why would they hasten on to their deaths? Jehovah was ready to forgive, ready to bless, ready to succor, but they "would not," and the judgment sword fell.
"Why will ye die?" God asks today of you. In view of Christ in death— in view of Christ in resurrection— in view of Christ in glory— why will ye die?
"The prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished." Prov. 22:33A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. (Proverbs 22:3). May you listen to the Savior's voice today, and flee to Him ere the judgment falls.