Romans 15:3. For even
Christ didn’t please Himself but, as it is written: ‘The insults of those who
insult you have fallen on me.’”
“Insults’ comes from
the Greek meaning reproach or defamation. Within society if a person has been
defamed he or she can go take the matter to court. Should they win, the victim
could be awarded substantial monetary damages. In thinking about that, I wondered
about the spiritual implications of this. The Creator has been insulted by the
pinnacle of His work, you and me, by how we have treated each other and the
environment. Atheists are more strident with their rejection of His existence.
Add to it, the way we slander His Name, His law, His word, and His Son, Jesus.
One day He will take
us to Heaven’s courtroom. Unfortunately for us, He is both the complainant and
the Presiding Judge. The verdict is against us. The penalty we can never pay.
The charge of insulting, defaming God is only one of many charges against us. In
comparison with aspects of our ungodliness belittling the Lord is small, but it
must be dealt with. What can we offer in our defence? Nothing. Who would
represent us in such a High Court and argue the case for mercy? What is the
price to pay?
As the Passover time
comes to us again we are made aware of the price of a blasphemous life. This
was the charge against Jesus by the High Priest. It was a death
sentence. That is what confronted us in the future, an eternal dismissal from
the presence of God and eternal life. In the text from Romans quoted above
reflect upon this added weight Jesus took to the cross on our behalf. Your
verbal, lifestyle and spiritual slander, unbelief, rebellion plus
self-righteous mockery of the Almighty fell on the Son. Jesus stepped into your
scene, my scene and took all which was in the charge sheets and put His name to
it.
The cross of Christ is
the most momentous event within time or beyond time. What the Son of God, the
Son of Man took upon Himself as our personal representative can never be fully
understood. What we can understand and take to heart is the fact, He did it. So,
what was achieved on our behalf? That depends upon two things. One, did Jesus
survive the death penalty? Two, how have you responded to what our
representative and substitute endured and achieved? The answer to number one is
‘He is risen!’ The answer to number two requires yours and my faith conviction
that He is risen! He is my Saviour! He is my Lord! He is the Son of God and my
Advocate. Now, when I stand before my Lord at the Judgement seat I have my
Advocate beside me. His words would be, on my behalf and your ‘The charges
against this person have been fully paid – by Me!’
To stand alone before
the Father in the courtroom of Heaven is to have no advocate, no answer to the
charges, no possible way to pay the damage bill, no hope of mercy.
Christ Jesus and the
cross offer peace, forgiveness, hope and a new beginning with eternity in it.
Over this Passover and Eastertime may you be once again captured by Calvary!
©Ray Hawkins. Author of ‘Captured by
Calvary’ and other 31 day Devotional Meditations.
His new Devotional ‘The Warrior Lord’s Sword’ is being released in April.
Thank you for this beautiful reminder today, Ray. Jesus my judge and my defender. It's beyond my human comprehension, and yet my whole hope depends upon it. I am awed by it every day. I hate that I still insult him when I try to make sacrifices for him that he's never asked for. Day by day I am learning to love Him more and understand that it's all about Him and nothing to do with me or anything I have done or will do.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jenny. How fortunate we are for the breadth, depth, height and width of what Jesus covered on the cross.
DeleteEnjoyed that thanks. Craig
ReplyDelete