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WE SHOULD not lose sight of important principles connected with the death of the Lord Jesus.
The Jews were guilty in rejecting and condemning Him to death. As considered in the preceding chapter, it was a Jew who betrayed Him and Jews who took Him to the high priest’s palace. Jewish leaders held the first council and unjust trial and when He testified of Himself as the Son of God, said: “He is worthy of death.” But, although they could pronounce Him worthy of death, they could not themselves execute that sentence.
“And straightway in the morning [they] bound Jesus, and carried Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.” v. 1. The Gentiles, then, share the guilt. The Jews certainly did not like the necessity of going to Pilate. They would prefer to put Jesus to death themselves, but God was overruling all circumstances pertaining to the death of His Son, and the participation of the Gentiles, the Roman conquerors, in the trial and death of Jesus brought to light the unregenerate guilt of the whole world. As we read: “We have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin.” Romans 3:99What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; (Romans 3:9). And again: “That every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” Romans 3:9, 199What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; (Romans 3:9)
19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Romans 3:19).
The guilt charged against Jesus was never substantiated. No two false witnesses (who beforehand had schemed what to say) could agree. But the law said: “One witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.” Numbers 35:3030Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die. (Numbers 35:30). Therefore Jesus’ innocence was emphatically established in both the Jewish and Gentile courts. Peter, who needed no court of man to as sure Him of the perfect character of his beloved Master, could later say: “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.” 1 Peter 2:2222Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (1 Peter 2:22), “Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18). This perfect Servant was condemned to death, not because He was guilty of evil, but because men who themselves were evil would not have Him dwelling among them.
Although wicked hands crucified Him, it was by the council and foreknowledge of God that He was thus slain (Acts 2:2323Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: (Acts 2:23)). “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). The wicked heart and action of the whole world was allowed to display itself, but if God had not loved the world and given His Son, men could not have laid hands on Him nor crucified Him.
It is also true, and most importantly so, that Jesus gave Himself. He could have called for angelic power to deliver Him, or at His own command have destroyed all His enemies, but instead “gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity.” Titus 2:1414Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:14).
The full unity of the Godhead Trinity was expressed in this loving sacrifice, for indeed there could be no conflict in such a glorious display of divine love. Thus it is recorded of Jesus that He “through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God.” Hebrews 9:1414How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14).
May we never grow so familiar with the story of the cross that we read it casually or carelessly. The more we ponder the amazing depth of love that took the Saviour to that cruel tree, the more our hearts should respond in love to Him and to God who so greatly loved us. “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:33The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. (Jeremiah 31:3).
ML-05/17/1964