Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." Galatians3:13
(Our dev is a little technical today but it's very important for us to understand the principle...)
When we've grown up with Christianity then we take it for granted that the cross was a necessary part of the work Jesus did to save us. But we don't always understand _why_...
Paul, writing to the Galatians, who had no prior background to Christianity or Judaism, explains it by quoting from Deuteronomy 21:23 in the Old Testament. This verse makes it clear that Jesus' execution and the public display of His death (hung on a tree) was not only a public humiliation, but it was considered a sign and expression of God's wrath and curse.
Jesus' mission was to set us free from the brokenness of our sin. In order to do this, He had to be without sin of His own so that He could legitimately carry _our_ sin. But if He was without sin then His death would have been a martyr's death (the death of an innocent one) and would only increase His holiness. So He had to die in a manner that was considered as an expression or embodiment of God's wrath. In effect Paul is saying: "When innocent Jesus was put on the cross, He became guilty by association because the cross was the Roman instrument of punishment and humiliation."
This guilt-by-association was the means by which Jesus (who was without sin of His own) became worthy of God's wrath. How could a just God pour out His wrath on His innocent Son? Because the cross-death clearly associated Him with broken humanity. Isaiah 53 talks about Jesus being "numbered with transgressors". When someone died on a cross you saw them as guilty. When God saw Jesus on the cross, guiltless Jesus became guilty of dying a sinner's death.
The cross was the means by which Jesus died a sinner's death even though He was without sin. Blameless Jesus chose to die in a way that connected Him with blame-laden humanity.
What amazing love this is!!!
________________________________________________
Notes for further thought:
-----------------------------------------
Some scholars have argued that Deuteronomy speaks about someone being executed (by stoning or by the sword) first and then their body being hanged or impaled for public humiliation, but the point remains the same - in crucifixion the Romans had found a way to execute and humiliate at the same time in a way that prolonged the agony.
-----------------------------------------------------
Even the idea of Jesus being a Jewish Martyr crushed by Roman Tyranny is negated by the fact that it was the Jewish High Priests who handed Him over for execution. Being handed over by the Jews (rejected) and crucified by the Romans (dying under a curse) made Him a scandal - both in the eyes of society and God.
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo @ emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at emmdev[dot]blogspot[dot]com/
